'Be Patient’: Gov Francis Nwifuru Explains Delay in ₦90,000 Minimum Wage for Ebonyi Workers

Gov Nwifuru 

Governor Francis Nwifuru has appealed for patience from workers in Ebonyi State following concerns over the delayed implementation of the ₦90,000 minimum wage at the local government level. The governor made the appeal while addressing teachers and other stakeholders, explaining that the delay is largely due to the state government’s ongoing efforts to clear outstanding pension and gratuity obligations owed to retired workers.

According to Nwifuru, the state is currently grappling with a significant financial commitment tied to the payment of retirees’ benefits. He revealed that the government is spending between ₦10 billion and ₦11 billion to address pension and gratuity liabilities.The governor said the decision to prioritize the payment of these outstanding benefits was necessary to ensure that workers who retire from service can receive their entitlements promptly, rather than waiting for years as had been the case in the past.

“When the issue of the ₦90,000 minimum wage came up, many workers started asking why the new wage has not started,” Nwifuru said. “But the truth is that a large portion of local government funds is currently being used to settle gratuity and pension debts.”

He explained that each month, about ₦1 billion to ₦2 billion is allocated to the committee responsible for paying retirees. As a result, the funds available to local governments after these deductions have been significantly reduced.

According to the governor, many local governments are left with roughly ₦120 million to ₦150 million monthly after pension-related payments are made. In some cases, he said, the highest allocation received by a local government after these deductions was slightly above ₦200 million.

Nwifuru noted that implementing the ₦90,000 minimum wage immediately under such financial conditions could make it difficult for local governments to carry out their basic administrative responsibilities.

“If we further deplete these funds, it means local governments will struggle to run their administration,” he explained.

The governor, however, assured workers that the situation is temporary. He disclosed that the government expects to complete the ongoing clearance of pension and gratuity backlogs within one to two months.

Once the outstanding obligations are fully addressed, he said, the new minimum wage would then be implemented.

Nwifuru emphasized that the ultimate goal of the policy is to establish a system where civil servants receive their retirement benefits immediately after leaving service.

He explained that under the reform being pursued by the state government, workers would no longer need to wait many years before accessing their gratuities and pensions.

“In the system we are building, once a worker retires, the person should receive gratuity immediately and begin to receive pension without delay,” the governor said.

The governor therefore urged workers to support the government’s approach and remain patient while the process of clearing past obligations is completed.

According to him, making short-term sacrifices now would help create a more sustainable system that protects the welfare of both current workers and retirees in the future.

For many workers in Ebonyi, the explanation offers insight into the financial considerations behind the delayed implementation of the new wage, even as expectations remain high for the eventual rollout of the ₦90,000 minimum wage.