Cross River Governor Defends Early Implementation of N70,000 Minimum Wage, Debunks Media Report

By Asuquo Cletus

The Cross River State Government has refuted recent media reports suggesting that it is yet to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage.

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Describing the claims as false, misleading, and a distortion of verifiable facts, the government dismissed the publications as unfounded.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill, expressed disappointment over a report published by The Punch Newspaper and echoed by other media outlets, which listed Cross River among states allegedly defaulting on the new wage policy.

“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading report in The Punch and some other media platforms, falsely listing Cross River among states that are yet to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage for workers,” Gill stated. “This report is entirely false.”

He stressed that the administration of Governor Edet Otu was, in fact, one of the first in the nation to implement the revised wage structure as early as December 2024. Gill affirmed that the new wage had been fully adopted across both state and local government levels, including all consequential adjustments, with workers already receiving the enhanced salaries.

“This administration is proactive and committed to workers’ welfare. Governor Otu wasted no time in ensuring that the new minimum wage was implemented in full, and salaries have been paid regularly and without fail,” he noted.

He urged the media platforms involved to issue a correction, stating that the facts are easily verifiable through key labour stakeholders, including the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

Gill also used the opportunity to reaffirm the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers and the general wellbeing of the people of Cross River State.

“The Otu administration remains fully committed to the welfare and upliftment of workers,” he said. “We urge the public to disregard the erroneous report and rest assured that Cross River remains a pacesetter in prioritising its workforce.”