Like Ebonyi, the Imo State Government has approved N10,000 as addition to the current salary of workers in the state, as part of efforts to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachukwu, he said the approval was given by Governor Hope Uzodinma at the State Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.
According to Nwachukwu, Governor Uzodimma lamented that the current economic situation caused by the removal of fuel subsidy is biting hard on the people.
“There shall be an immediate upward review of the salaries and wages of workers in the state. The minimum wage is hereby raised to forty thousand naira (N40,000) with discretionary consequential adjustments,” the governor was quoted as saying.
“At least, your salaries would be able not only to take you home, but to also provide your basic necessities to enable you to make ends meet.”
Meanwhile, apart from the free transport which the workers reportedly enjoy, Uzodimma has said his administration will increase the fleet of buses carrying workers to and from work with ten more new buses.
“This is to ensure every nook and cranny of the state capital is captured in the routes that the buses ply, to bring the service closest to the doorsteps of every worker,” he noted.
Also, plans have reached advanced level to recalibrate the tax system in Imo, with Governor Uzodimma hinting that those who earn below N100,000 annually are likely going to be yanked off the State’s tax net.