Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has reneged on his agreement to begin the payment of the new minimum wage in December, despite signing the deal just over a week ago. The Governor had earlier approved an N80,000 minimum wage for state workers, N10,000 higher than the federal government’s N70,000 rate. However, while some states, like Rivers, had already implemented similar pay increases, Governor Eno insisted that the new wage could only take effect after staff verification.

Eno’s delay was further exacerbated when he cited the “Japa Syndrome”—the term for the mass emigration of Nigerians in search of better opportunities abroad—as a reason for the verification process. In place of the new wage, the governor proposed paying a 13th-month salary to workers, apparently as a compensation for the delay.

After facing pressure from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Governor Eno signed an agreement last week committing to the new wage starting in December, with arrears for November to be settled in the first quarter of 2025. However, during the State Christmas Carols in Uyo on Friday, he backtracked, insisting that the verification must be completed before the new wage is paid.

The Governor acknowledged the agreement with labour but stated, “I cannot be coerced into implementing it.” He explained, “If they give me the verification today, we will start paying in November, but we are paying on the old structure tonight.”

He warned that if the verification process was delayed, the 13th month salary would be withheld. Eno emphasized that he must know the exact number of workers in the state’s civil service before proceeding with the wage increase, which he argued was necessary for fiscal responsibility.

Sunny James, the chairperson of the NLC in Akwa Ibom, expressed disappointment with the Governor’s backpedaling, stating that the new minimum wage was a pressing need for workers, especially given that the 13th-month salary for junior staff was less than N20,000, whereas the new wage would amount to at least N55,000 for junior staff.
Following the governor’s remarks, labour leaders in the state are set to meet and decide on the next steps, with tensions between the state government and the NLC mounting.