Benue: Drama as Ortom disowns aide who announced approval of N30,000 minimum wage

The Benue State government has debunked the claim that it has concluded plans to commence the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage to workers in the state.

The government also disowned the Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Ode Enyi for saying that it had concluded talks with Labour and was on the verge of commencing payment to workers in the state.

The state government made the u-turn in a press statement issued to newsmen in Makurdi on Friday and signed by Prof. Tony Ijohor, (SAN),
Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

He explained that the government was still holding talks with labour and wondered why the aide had gone ahead to make the announcement.

Ijohor who is also Chairman of the Government Committee on new minimum wage, said “It is necessary to state that negotiations between Benue State Government and labour unions on implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage have not yet been concluded.

“The member of the State Government Committee on the New Minimum Wage who posted on social media that the negotiations were concluded and approval given, did so in haste and error and has since been told to retract the report.

“We wonder why the committee member rushed to the media with the report when we (government) and labour leaders were still meeting to agree on the new minimum wage for workers of the state.

“Our administration has presented its proposal and labour leaders have given assurance that they would study the proposal and get back to government.

“We (government) call for patience as negotiations on the new minimum wage will soon be concluded in the best interest of all Benue people.”, it stated