On Wednesday, Bassey Otu, the Governor of Cross River State, declared that the minimum wage for the lowest-paid civil servants in the state would be N40,000.
He also committed to addressing the outstanding promotion arrears inherited by his administration before assuming office on May 29, 2023.
During the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar, the state capital, Governor Otu assured workers that his administration would continue to prioritize timely payment of salaries and pensions. He emphasized the importance of motivating workers for enhanced productivity by promptly addressing their concerns.
Governor Otu mentioned that Cross River State is in the process of finalizing arrangements for the phased payment of outstanding gratuities to retired workers, urging pensioners to remain patient.
Acknowledging the state’s financial challenges due to low federal allocations and unfavorable GDP-to-debt ratios, Governor Otu emphasized that the implementation of the new wage would be pragmatic rather than driven by sentiment. He announced that the minimum wage for the state’s civil service would be set at N40,000, with plans for immediate implementation currently underway.
Governor Otu urged every worker in Cross River State to reciprocate the administration’s efforts by redoubling their commitment to their assigned duties.
