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Enugu Governor Peter Mbah wins over workers with N32bn for pensions and a new N32,000 minimum pension in the 2026 budget.

It isn't every day you see labour leaders burst into spontaneous singing after a meeting with a Governor, but that was exactly the scene at the Enugu Government House on Thursday.

Following a high-level meeting with Governor Peter Mbah, representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed overwhelming satisfaction with the state’s new welfare plans for workers and retirees.

The biggest takeaway from the meeting is the Governor’s commitment to the 2026 budget, which sets aside a massive N32 billion specifically for pensions and gratuities. 

This fund is expected to clear inherited debts and ensure retirees are paid what they are owed without delay.

In a move that will directly impact the poorest retirees, the Governor also approved a new minimum pension of N32,000. Previously, some retirees were receiving less than a thousand naira monthly. This adjustment marks a significant shift in the state's approach to elderly welfare.

Beyond the money, the state is also focusing on the working environment. The Head of Service, Dr. Godwin Anigbo, confirmed that the government will complete the state secretariat and renovate existing blocks. 

He also disclosed that the governor directed an immediate review of consequential adjustments arising from the new minimum wage and reaffirmed sustained investments in manpower development.

As statistics shows Enugu civil servants are one of the poorly paid in the South East.

Additionally, Enugu is set to host Nigeria’s first-of-its-kind Public Service Training Institute to sharpen the skills of its workforce.

Labour leaders noted that the "industrial harmony" currently enjoyed in the state is a result of the Governor keeping his word. 

Comrade Fabian Nwigbo of the NLC highlighted that pension arrears were cleared shortly after Mbah took office, building a rare level of trust between the government and the unions.

This improved relationship is already showing results in productivity. Workers have largely ignored the previous Monday "sit-at-home" orders, returning to their posts with renewed motivation. 

As the TUC Chairman, Comrade Ejikeme Akaeme, put it: "Workers are no longer coerced to go to work; they are motivated because they see the impact of good governance."