Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade has agreed to pay the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage demanded by workers in the country. This according to the Governor is part of the policy thrust of his administration to ensure welfare of workers in the state.
He made the promise while addressing workers who embarked on a state wide protest to call for the implementation of the new minimum wage law in the country.
Ayade who was represented by the State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon John Ulafor maintained that the new wage for workers was not just called for but is the right step to take. He maintained that the new minimum wage was not beyond the capacity of government to pay.
"This is the right step to take and I wish to thank workers in the state for embarking on a peaceful protest. The new wage is workers right and as a workers friendly government we have always ensured that you get your salaries on time.
"30, 000 is all right and the state government will stand with labour is this regards and I wish to assure you that government will ensure that the new wage sails through because it is not beyond the state government to pay.
"Whatever we need to do extra to ensure that the federal government implements the new minimum wage bill for workers will be done," Ayade assured.
Earlier in his remarks, the Cross River State Chairman for the NLC, Comrade John Ushie stressed that the new wage has been due for review since 2015 and government has refused to review the minimum wage of Nigerian workers.
Ushie added that as a pressure group, Labour presented a demand of 66, 500 to government but a tripartite committee set up by government came up with 30,000 as minimum wage and government's refusal to implement this necessitated the protest.
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