The Abia State Government has said that it is monitoring the conversation going on between the Federal Government and organized labour on proposed salary increase for workers.
The government assured that it would make a proclamation at the appropriate time, in line with what it can afford.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, said this in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s state executive council meeting, presided by Governor Alex Otti.
Also speaking on salary increase issue, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Chinedu Ekeke assured that the the Alex Otti-led administration is interested in the welfare of the workers but would not want to take the first step on workers’ salary increase ahead of the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government is currently considering a wage review and negotiations are ongoing and at the state executive council level, we are monitoring that conversation.
“Our stand as a state government is that we do not want to go ahead of the Federal Government to make a proclamation on that because you do not know where the direction that the Federal Government is headed.
“So, it’s better for us to wait and then see what the Federal Government wants to do and then we now look at what we can afford as a state and then move.”
On the alleged incessant harassment of Abia residents in Aba by the men of Police Rapid Response Team, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor said that harassment of people is not acceptable and would not be tolerated in the state.
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