The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 election in Enugu State, Ray Kene Ogbodo has urged Governor Peter Mbah of the state to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000.
Ogbodo said this through a press statement made available by his media aide, Mr Azubuike Akam on Friday, while reviewing Governor Mbah’s 15 months in office.
The former guber candidate, who commended the governor for raising the bar of governance with his laudable projects and style of leadership, said the workers’ deserve the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage in line with economic realities in the country.
He stated that over the past 15 months, he had given the Governor time to settle down to proper governance and therefore observed from afar.
“However, now is the right time to appreciate the Governor on his leadership style, appraise his work and anticipate what is to come from the Governor,” he stated.
“The Mega Asphalt Plant project is unprecedented, the thought of it is not ordinary, it’s simply out of this world for a State Governor to come up with such project
“With that, Mbah means business in Enugu, he doesn’t want to fail himself, his supporters and the people of Enugu State,” he said, adding that he would support any policy that would bring Enugu people out of abject poverty.
He expressed belief that Mbah would take Enugu to the next level as he has deviated from the style of the past government in the state.
On the minimum wage, he said, “I appeal to the Governor to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000 to cushion the effects of high cost of living on workers.
“There is no better time than now to increase workers’ salaries. We promised and talked about N50,000 then because we knew things were difficult, but now, things are worse than it was when we were campaigning.
“So, I urge the Governor to implement the N70,000 minimum wage as approved by the federal government.”
Ogbodo, who said he believed in social capitalism, stated that the new minimum wage “will go a long way in uplifting our people from abject poverty of the pocket, mind, body and soul.
“Our people are suffering and languishing in poverty, they deserve a decent and better life. Our Governor can help to ease the pain for our people.”
“As I appreciate and commend the Governor, I look forward to a multi-facet economy in Enugu, modern infrastructure in urban and rural areas, improvement in agricultural sector, diversification of energy sector by investing in renewable energy, improvement in the transportation system, delivering a cleaner and welcoming environment that will make Enugu State the destination of choice for private investors,” he concluded.
