The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu has said that the state was among the first to pay workers the new minimum wage.
Speaking on a live television programme monitored in Asaba, with theme: “Developments within the sub-nationals, year 2024 in retrospect,” Aniagwu said the state was among the first states in the country to pay the new minimum wage as far back as October.
He said: “When the federal government agreed with labour on the need to implement a N70,000 minimum wage, our government made it very clear that as soon as that was settled, that we were going to proceed to begin implementation.
“So, we are not among those that are still procrastinating. We are not even implementing just N70,000. We are implementing far above that.
“We are not saying we are going to implement because as for the salaries that were paid last month, our people have already received the minimum wage right from October. So, we have started implementing.
“So, we are not among those that are having challenges with their workforce. We always have the cooperation of our labour force in Delta.
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“Governor Oborevwori, who is very labour-friendly has even before the argument around wage increase had because of the hardship that was triggered by certain pronouncements at the federal level, already kick-started a number of policies aimed at ensuring that our workforce is taken care of and that the challenges triggered by some of those policies are mitigated.”
On healthcare delivery, Aniagwu said the Oborevwori administration is working on over 150 health centres even, as the 64 general hospitals in the state are receiving a facelift, apart from the new teaching hospital in Ozoro.
“We have been able to get the National Universities Commission (NUC) to accredit a number of programmes, including the introduction of medicine at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
“So, we are now building a college of medicine that will be able to cater to the needs of the medical students that will have to attend that institution in Ozoro.
“We have also taken a look at some of the other health needs such as increased medical personnel, the shortage of medical personnel no thanks to the japa syndrome.
“So, much has been done in the health sector. I had the privilege of laying the foundation stone on behalf of my governor for the College of Health Technology at Ovrode in Isoko North Local Government Area.
“This is to address the issue of medical personnel shortage so that we’re able to also train more in addition to those that will graduate from our university and those who also come in from outside the shores of our state for the purpose of advancing our healthcare,” he added.