Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has announced the disbursement of cash awards to state workers, ranging from N10,000 to N25,000 per month, effective from December 2023 to April 2024.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Mbah explained that this measure is intended to provide relief to workers amidst the rising cost of living, following the removal of petroleum subsidies.
He also stated that negotiations for a new minimum wage are ongoing and are expected to conclude soon.
“As you may be aware, since the removal of the petroleum subsidy, we have been in constant negotiation with the labour unions in the state, crafting a way forward on how we can provide palliatives to our teeming workforce,” he said.
Quest Times further reports that the Governor highlighted the expansion of the state’s social register from 43,000 to 260,000 beneficiaries, while emphasis was placed on the combined value of social services provided by the state, which exceeds the proposed N100,000 minimum wage.
This announcement comes in light of a recent decision by the National Economic Council (NEC) to update the national social register due to concerns over its credibility.
The NEC, chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, resolved that proposed cash benefits for Nigerians would be distributed based on updated social registers compiled by each state.
Also, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, confirmed that the verification of the social register is ongoing, as her ministry is collaborating with state governors and stakeholders at the local government level to ensure its accuracy and comprehensiveness.