A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has said that it is a thing of concern and regrettable situation that, despite the money currently available to the Abia State government, the minimum wage of the state is an embarrassment to the workers.
Kalu, a former commissioner for information in the state, in an optimistic tone said that when his party, the PDP, takes over the government house in 2027, the least worker in Abia must earn at least N120,000 after tax as minimum wage.
The PDP stalwart said that in the absence of the global recession of the 2015-2023 era and with the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, there is now much money available for the welfare of workers and Abia people in general.
Kalu said that it is an aberration for neighbouring states in the South East, like Imo State and Ebonyi State, to be paying their workers N104,000 and N90,000 respectively, while Abia is still struggling to pay N70,000 with all the money available.
He noted that such a gap now exists between Abia and her neighbours because of the ongoing looting and diversion of public funds into private pockets, which he said the new PDP-led government must stop.
“The lowest worker in Abia State will earn at least N120,000 monthly. With what’s also available now, under us, promotion and other allowances will be paid as and when due,” Kalu said.
He went on to describe the saga of forfeited pension and gratuity as very unfortunate and said, “We shall reverse the so-called forfeiture of earned pensions and gratuities by our retirees and pay them within the first 100 days of inauguration of the new PDP-led government.”
He equally added that the new PDP-led government “Shall also return free home care services for elderly persons in Abia.”
Kalu advised Abia people and everyone resident in Abia to remain steadfast, as the real governance is on the way to put an end to the ongoing misery of looting and diverting people’s attention in a coordinated manner.
