The governor of Enugu, Peter Mbah, approved new wages for workers in the state on Thursday.

Mbah confirmed this in a statement where he also said he had earlier announced further palliatives for Enugu workers on Wednesday.

“Yesterday in my office, in the presence of labour leaders in the state, I announced further palliatives for our workers, as well as the indigent citizens in our communities,” he posted on X.

“My administration has approved the payment of between N10,000 and N25000 to workers, and the increase of our state’s social register enrollment, from 43,000 to 260,000, for cash transfers to the indigent ones.”

Mbah said the aim is to cushion the hardships occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy on workers and indigent citizens.

He said his administration believes the cash transfers and other social interventions will, to a great extent, bring succor to workers and vulnerable people in Enugu state.

According to him, the payments will last for five months, starting from next month, December, to April 2024.

Mbah stated that the Enugu state government has created a category of payment whereby primary and secondary school teachers, local government workers and civil servants will receive a flat payment of between N10,000 and N25,000.

The amount to be received will depend on the category a worker falls into while his administration is also reviewing the minimum wage.

He added that hopefully, by the end of April 2024, the committee saddled with that responsibility will present a new minimum wage to the Enugu state government which they shall then implement.

The governor further said that his administration is determined to achieve zero per cent poverty headcount index in the state by 2031.

“We have set aside N1.5 billion for social development programmes like water and sanitation in our communities,” Mbah said.

“We shall also construct 260 model primary healthcare centers and 260 smart schools with accompanying teachers’ quarters.

“Teachers would enjoy free accommodation, while living in close proximity to their work places, eliminating transport costs.”

Mbah also said that the ultimate goal of his administration is that when a monetary value is put on all the social services, they will provide for the Enugu state workers and it will weigh well above the N100,000 minimum wage.