Blank NEWS Online can report that the Delta state government is yet to implement the new National Minimum Wage policy for workers in the state civil service.

Commissioner for Economic Planning, Kenneth Okpara, said the delay in implementation is due to the state government’s plans to use the bio-metric screening system to determine actual workers from ghost workers.

He revealed that a committee has been established by the state government to do proper screening of its workers before the new wage could be paid.

“The committee will review staffing in the state workforce and finger-print will be a major factor in the exercise.

“We must ensure that the salary figure that we will be releasing subsequently matches the number of persons remaining in the employment of the state after the bio-metric exercise.”

Recall that Blank NEWS Online had on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, in its breaking news,  reported that “Delta Pays New Wage With Effect From March 23, 2011”

Uduaghan’s earlier approval of the implementation of the new national minimum wage for civil servants in the state, followed a circular letter issued from the office of the Head of Service and signed by Mrs A. P. Umukoro, indicating that the implementation of the new minimum wage will take effect from March 23, 2011.

According to the circular letter made available to Blank NEWS Online, the new minimum wage was to affect all civil servants from Grade Level 01 to Grade Level 17, with least paid worker getting N18, 900. Prior to this new minimum wage approval, the least paid worker’s take home pay was N17, 500.

Meanwhile, the 2012 budget of N437 Billion reflects a recurrent expenditure of N169.82 billion as funds set aside for the payment of new minimum wage.