The countdown to implementation of the Minimum wage in Akwa Ibom is on and civil servants are keep their fingers crossed, as they expect receipt of their new salary package.

Speaking about this, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Akwa Ibom state, Comrade SUNNY JAMES says he believes the modalities for payment of the new wages to civil servants will be concluded this month.

Comrade JAMES was speaking on Inspiration FM’s flagship programme; Talking Point, earlier today, where he noted that civil servants in the state will get their wages ahead of the December 1, 2024, deadline.

Labor at the National level has threatened a shutdown of activities in states that default in the implementation of the new minimum wage by December 1, particularly as some states are yet to announce the minimum wage to be paid to workers.

Recall that Governor UMO ENO had approved N80,000 minimum wage for Akwa Ibom State workers in October and set up an implementation committee chaired by the Head of Civil Service, EFFIONG ESSIEN, 2 months after the template was released by the Federal Government.

Speaking on the diligence by the present administration towards clearing backlog of gratuities and pensions owed retired civil servants in the state; the NLC Chairman said in the wake of Local Government Autonomy, the onus lies on council chairmen to prioritize workers remuneration and welfare.