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Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Monday agreed to pay N20,000 as minimum wage to workers in the state, with effect from April.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor who broke the news during an interactive session with the workers in Owerri, however, said the arrears would be paid in instalment.
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The announcement by the governor generated wild cheers from the workers, who had been expectant of an agreement on the new wage.
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Okorocha, appreciated the hardship workers went through in taking full responsibility of their families, stating that “the N18,000 national minimum wage cannot sustain a worker with a family in the present economic realities in the country''.
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“N18,000 cannot sustain a worker, who has six children in school, plus his wife and other dependants,” he added.
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Okorocha also announced free medical care for the workers, adding that a medical test would be conducted, particularly to ascertain their blood pressure and sugar level.
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“A lot of people are suffering from hypertension and diabetes. This is why some people usually collapse in the office and it will be attributed to spiritual attacks,”? the governor noted.
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He also said that Fridays would be set aside for fitness exercise in the state, explaining that the workers would be expected to jog round some parts of the state capital, to keep fit.
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The governor solicited the cooperation of the workers in meeting the target set by the administration to provide dividends of democracy to the people.
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Okorocha, warned the workers against lateness to work, absenteeism, truancy and laxity, saying the government would not hesitate to remove those found compromising the duties assigned to them.
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The governor commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for their steadfastness in the course of the negotiations and urged it to continue to partner with the government in order to transform the state.
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Commenting on the decision of Abia government to sack non-indigenes in its employment, Okorocha said it was a sensitive issue that was being handled with care.
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Chairman of the NLC Reginald Anyadike expressed delight over the governor’s gesture, saying it was a demonstration of the government's concern for the plight of the workers.
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He pledged that the workers would reciprocate by being more alive to their duties.?