The Abia State Government will begin the payment of the N70,000.00 national minimum wage next month, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu has said.

Kanu stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti, in Umuahia, the state’s capital.

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the state government will commence the payment of the national minimum wage in October 2024,” he noted.

He said the decision underscores the commitment of the government, and the Governor’s promise to improve the welfare of the civil servants.

“The payment is in line with the broader agenda of the federal government. However, the state government has designed it to cut across all categories of workers.”

The Commissioner also announced that the Ministry of Health will organise a free medical outreach at the SDG Multipurpose Hospital, Ugwunagbo on Wednesday, 25th September.

Explaining that the outreach will be flagged off by the wife of the governor, Mrs Pricillia Otti, he said the services will include consultation, maternal and child healthcare, and diagnostic tests.

According to him, other services to be rendered during the outreach include minor surgeries and enrollment of women, children and the elderly into the basic plan of the State’s Health Insurance Scheme.