As Nigerian workers continue to agitate for increment in salaries in view of the current hight cost of living, the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has announced N40,000 as the living wage for the least paid civil servants in the state.

Governor Otu, on Wednesday, also pledged that his administration would implement the outstanding promotion arrears he inherited before his assumption to office on May 29 last year.

The Governor made the announcement during the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium, Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

He assured workers that his administration will not relent in celebrating her workers by being proactive in attending to the issues that affect the workforce towards motivating them for increased productivity.

Otu said that his administration’s prompt payment of salary and pension will remain a first priority in every month’s expenditure, considering the huge energy sunk in by workers to implement the programmes and policies of government.

He stated that Cross River is presently at the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers, thereby charging pensioners to exercise patience.

“Owing to the peculiarity of our state in regard to its lean finances occasioned by low Statutory Federal Allocation and aggravated by the unfavourable state GDP to Debt servicing ratio, the new wage implementation shall be in line with the realities of the time, rather than sentiments.

“I wish to announce that the least paid worker in the Cross River State Civil Service will henceforth earn the sum of N40,000.00 (Forty Thousand Naira) only; as a living wage,” adding that modalities for immediate implementation are being worked out.

Governor Otu therefore charged every worker in the employ of Cross River State to reciprocate the kind gestures of the administration by doubling the efforts in assigned duties.