The Anambra state government has reacted to reports by a section of the media that it is among 27 states yet to set up the minimum wage committee, months after the bill was passed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

A statement by the state’s commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu describes such report as false and misleading, saying the state was among the first to set up the minimum wage committee.

According to the statement, reads: “The attention of Anambra State Government has been drawn to a Punch Newspaper report of Sunday, 11th August 2024, titled, “27 states, FCT yet to set up minimum wage panels” where Anambra State was listed among the 27 states that have not set up committees to implement the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage.”

” The report as it concerns Anambra State is not true as Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR was the first to constitute a minimum wage committee even before the crisis over minimum wage escalated.”

“Anambra State Committee on Minimum Wage was precisely set up on the 22nd May, 2024, two months before President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage into law on July 29, 2024.”

“The Minimum Wage Committee comprises the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Head of Service (HOS), Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, the State Chapters of Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria as members, including the executive and legislative arms of local governments.”

“Local correspondents and reporters of news organisations should always endeavour to verify their news materials before publication to avoid embarrassing the organisations they represent.” The statement cautioned.