The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has approved a new wage structure for civil servants, raising the state’s minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦104,000.

The new scale, announced on Tuesday, represents a further upward review of the ₦70,000 wage earlier introduced by the state government in November, 2024, which had positioned Imo as one of the first states in Nigeria to move significantly above the federal minimum of ₦30,000.

Under the latest adjustment, entry-level doctors in the state’s service will now earn ₦513,000, while newly employed lecturers will receive ₦222,000. In addition, the government said senior citizens and pensioners will begin receiving the next batch of gratuity payments starting tomorrow.

The governor explained that the new wage structure was informed by the rising cost of living and the need to cushion the effect of inflation on Imo workers. He stressed that his administration was determined to make the state a model for labour-friendly policies and to ensure that workers remain motivated in-service delivery.

Observers note that the Imo wage policy could set a new benchmark in the national conversation around minimum wage, particularly as the federal government and organised labour continue to negotiate a uniform adjustment for workers across the country.

More details later….