By Abisola THOMPSON
The Anambra Head of Service, Mr Harry Udu, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment toward implementing the new minimum wage as promised.
TBI Africa said that the head of service made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Friday.
He said the implementation would help motivate civil servants in the state to performing their duties optimally.
Udu said Gov Willie Obiano had given matching orders to the Internally Generated Revenue agencies to redouble efforts in raising extra N1.4 billion that would ensure that the promise was kept.
He said that Obiano’s pledge in his address to civil servants during the electioneering period to be the first to pay the wage once approved was not a political statement.
“Gov Obiano remains irrevocably committed to fulfilling the promise of being the first governor that will pay the new wage once approved,” he said.
Udu said that the governor had read the riot act to all its revenue agencies and pointed out the importance of maintaining its standards.
“Government is focused on making arrangements to move to the new minimum wage without having challenges in the legacy of the governor.
“Efforts are being made to get additional revenue to sustain the practice of workers receiving salaries on 25th of every month.” Udu said
The head of service said the directive on the financial implication of the N30,000 minimum wage and other options being considered were being handled, so as to have a seamless transition.
Udu said that since the Nigerian Senate had approved the wage increase, efforts are on top gear to ensure that the promise was actualised, once President Muhammadu Buhari gave assent to the bill.
He said that the Salary and Wages Commission would issue a circular on its implementation indication chart, the grading.
“Once all those processes were done, then the promise will be achieved after due calculations,” he said.
The head of service disclosed that the government also had a program for the housing scheme for its civil servants adding that the area had been mapped out.
He urged civil servants in the state to be more committed to their work and ensured that they discharged their duties professionally at all times so as to assist in making the state great.
