Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has announced a significant upward review of salaries for civil servants, approving a new minimum wage of N104,000.
The announcement came late Tuesday during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House, Owerri.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the adjustment raises the state’s minimum wage from N76,000 to N104,000.
The governor also approved a review of salaries for key professionals: doctors’ minimum wage rose from N215,000 to N503,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions will now earn at least N222,000, up from N119,000.
Governor Uzodimma said the decision was part of efforts to cushion the effects of economic reforms, fuel subsidy removal, and rising cost of living.
“When workers are paid well, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows. This is our way of investing in Imo people,” Uzodimma stated.
The governor disclosed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue had increased from N400 million to over N3 billion monthly, while federal allocations to Imo had also doubled since 2020.
He added that the state’s debt profile had been reduced from over N280 billion to less than N100 billion.
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On infrastructure, Uzodimma recalled that most sectors were in collapse when he took office in 2020 but assured that his administration had since channelled resources into rebuilding roads, strengthening security, and improving healthcare.
He also announced that the state will, from August 27, begin paying off the last tranche of the N16 billion gratuity owed pensioners, while health insurance reforms and new business initiatives will continue to drive development.
Labour leaders in the state described the wage increase as historic.
Mr Uchechigemezu Nwigwe, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the decision marked “a victory for the entire workforce,” noting that Imo had now become one of the highest-paying states in Nigeria.
“Today, no worker in Imo will say the governor has not been fair. He has rescued us from economic hardship,” Nwigwe said, assuring that workers would repay the gesture with greater dedication.
Similarly, the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Uchenna Ibe, praised the governor for showing “strong political will” in making the bold move.