Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved a new minimum wage for civil servants in the state. He announced that workers will now receive N104,000 as the minimum wage, an increase from the previous N76,000.

The governor made the announcement during a meeting with labour union leaders at the Government House in Owerri on Tuesday night. He also approved new salary structures for other sectors.

Doctors will now earn N503,000, up from N215,000, while lecturers in tertiary institutions will receive N222,000 instead of N119,000.

Speaking at the meeting, Uzodimma explained that his administration had faced several challenges since taking office in 2020. These included insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardship caused by reforms, and disagreements over subsidy removal and minimum wage.

He said no government can succeed without maintaining a good relationship with workers. According to him, when workers are well paid, productivity rises, families are happier, and the local economy grows.

The governor noted that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has improved significantly, rising from N400 million to over N3 billion every month.

He also revealed that the state’s federal allocation had increased from about N5–7 billion in 2020 to N14 billion, while the state’s debt dropped from N280 billion to below N100 billion.

Uzodimma said that when he came into office, infrastructure across all sectors had collapsed. His administration, he explained, has invested heavily in rebuilding roads, tackling insecurity, and restoring essential services.

On fuel subsidy removal, he admitted that it raised the cost of living but described it as a bold move by President Bola Tinubu. He promised that his government would make sure the benefits of the policy reach ordinary citizens.

The governor also announced that from August 27, the state government will begin paying the last batch of N16 billion in gratuities owed to pensioners.

He added that his government had reformed the health sector by introducing health insurance schemes and equipping hospitals to deliver quality treatment.

Uzodimma further revealed that Imo has keyed into the Federal Government’s initiative to establish 1,000 businesses in every active INEC ward. He urged labour unions to remain united and continue to work with the government.

He also encouraged workers to add value to the system while warning against unethical practices and laziness.