Workers and labour unions in Imo State have hailed Governor Hope Uzodinma for approving a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 for civil servants, describing it as a bold and historic step that sets the pace for other governors across Nigeria.
The governor also raised the entry-level salary for doctors to ₦513,000 and lecturers to ₦222,000, while announcing that the next batch of gratuity payments to senior citizens and pensioners will commence tomorrow.
The development comes just weeks after President Bola Tinubu charged governors to “wet the ground” and ease the hardship facing Nigerians at the grassroots. While many states are still struggling to adjust their wage structures, Uzodinma has taken the bull by the horns by putting smiles on the faces of Imo workers.
Labour leaders in the state hailed the move, saying it shows genuine political will to address the economic realities of today.
“This is not just a salary review, it is a message of hope. Governor Uzodinma has proven that leadership is about action, not excuses. Other governors should emulate this,” one union leader said.
Civil servants across the state expressed joy, with many saying the new wage will transform their living conditions.
“A ₦104,000 minimum wage means food on the table, school fees for our children, and dignity in our labour. Uzodinma has made us smile again,” a jubilant worker in Owerri said.
With this move, Imo has become the first state in Nigeria to cross the ₦100,000 minimum wage mark, setting a new standard in workers’ welfare and sparking nationwide calls for other states to follow suit.
However, senior civil servants (levels 8 to 17) have voiced discontent over the distribution of the wage increase:
They claim junior workers (levels 1–7) received larger increments compared to them, with some senior staff receiving as little as ₦14,000 extra. These discrepancies have sparked calls for labour leaders to intervene
