2027: Anosike Promises ₦90,000 Minimum Wage for Abia Workers, Says State Pays Far Less Than Neighbours, Unveils Global Jobs Agency for Youths

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Dr. Kelechi Anosike, has unveiled an ambitious people-centred agenda, promising to implement a ₦90,000 minimum wage, improve workers’ welfare, expand infrastructure, and establish a global employment agency that will connect thousands of Abia youths with legitimate job opportunities around the world if elected in 2027.

The lawyer, ICT expert and entrepreneur argued that Abia has the financial capacity to provide better living conditions for its citizens, insisting that the state is “not poor but poorly managed.” According to him, prudent leadership and people-oriented policies would enable the government to improve workers’ welfare while simultaneously delivering sustainable infrastructure.

Speaking during an interview in Lagos, Anosike criticized what he described as governance driven by social media narratives rather than the everyday realities faced by many Abians, stressing that his administration would prioritize the welfare of the people over propaganda.

Promises ₦90,000 Minimum Wage, Says Abia Lags Behind Other Southeast States
A major highlight of Anosike’s agenda is his pledge to implement the ₦90,000 National Minimum Wage immediately upon assuming office in May 2027.
He maintained that civil servants deserve not only better salaries but also comprehensive welfare packages, including healthcare and professional development opportunities.

“I am a welfarist by nature. I hate to see people suffer. As Governor of Abia State, I shall implement the ₦90,000 National Minimum Wage for civil servants, backed by a strong welfare architecture that protects workers and restores dignity to public service,” he declared.

Anosike lamented that Abia workers currently earn significantly less than their counterparts in neighbouring Southeast states, describing the situation as unacceptable.

According to him, Ebonyi and Enugu States pay about ₦85,000 minimum wage, while Imo State pays ₦104,000, yet many Abia workers continue to earn far less.
He noted that the disparity has become so severe that what a Level One worker earns in Imo State is almost equivalent to what a Level Nine officer earns in Abia, a situation he described as a grave injustice.

“It is sad that what a Level One worker earns in Imo State is close to what a Level Nine officer earns in Abia State. This injustice must change. We sympathize with Abia workers, but our promise is to change the narrative. We ask them not only to support us but to partner with us in reclaiming Abia and restoring dignity to the workforce.”

He stressed that any government that neglects the welfare of its workforce ultimately weakens its capacity to deliver meaningful development.

Free Health Insurance for Civil Servants
Beyond salary increases, Anosike pledged to introduce a comprehensive health insurance scheme for all civil servants through a proposed Civil Service Care Programme.
According to him, quality healthcare should be a right rather than a privilege reserved for the wealthy.

“Beyond salaries, we will introduce free health insurance for all civil servants under our Civil Service Care Programme because quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege. A healthy workforce is the foundation of a productive government.”

He argued that rising medical costs have pushed many families into financial hardship and promised that his administration would remove that burden by guaranteeing access to quality healthcare.

‘Abia Is Not Poor, But Poorly Managed’
Rejecting suggestions that the state lacks the resources to fund these programmes, Anosike insisted that Abia has sufficient revenue to pay workers fairly, clear pension obligations, and still invest massively in infrastructure.

“Abia is not poor, but the state is currently being poorly managed. There are enough resources and funds within our state to pay workers fairly, clear pension obligations, and still invest massively in development.”

He emphasized that development should focus not only on physical projects but also on improving the lives of citizens.

“Our government will build infrastructure and also build lives. We will not build infrastructure at the expense of the people’s lives. Abians need to be alive to use the infrastructure. Our policy is simple: People First.”

PensionPlus to Clear Arrears and Support Retirees

Anosike also promised a dedicated pension intervention programme known as PensionPlus, aimed at systematically clearing outstanding pension arrears while providing free health insurance coverage for retirees.

He lamented that many pensioners who devoted decades of service to the state now live in hardship and uncertainty.

“No worker who labours faithfully for the state should live in hardship. No pensioner who spent the best years of their life in service should retire into suffering, abandonment, and uncertainty.”

According to him, PensionPlus will ensure that retirees receive the dignity and care they deserve.

ALGOA: Gateway to Global Employment Opportunities for Abia Youths
Another major pillar of Anosike’s vision is the creation of the Abia Labour and Global Opportunities Agency (ALGOA), a specialized institution designed to connect Abia’s talented youths with legitimate employment opportunities across the world.
Rather than relying solely on government jobs, the proposed agency will identify, prepare, certify, and connect qualified Abians with employment opportunities in Europe, the United Kingdom, North America, the Middle East, and other emerging labour markets.

The agency will collaborate with universities, polytechnics, technical institutions, vocational centres, professional bodies, international employers, technology companies, healthcare providers, engineering firms, and recruitment organizations to create structured pathways for global employment while protecting young people from fraudulent recruiters and human trafficking.

Anosike said ALGOA would also position Abia youths to take advantage of the rapidly expanding digital economy by equipping them for remote jobs in software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, digital marketing, accounting, project management, customer support, and content development.

Under the initiative, he explained, a graduate living in Umuahia, Aba, Ohafia, Arochukwu, or Ukwa could legitimately work for organizations in London, Toronto, Dubai, Berlin, or New York while residing in Abia and earning globally competitive incomes.

He described the programme as more than an employment initiative, calling it a strategic plan to position Abia as a globally connected talent hub capable of generating foreign exchange, stimulating local investment, and driving economic growth through the skills and creativity of its people.

For Anosike, the philosophy is simple: “The world is a marketplace of opportunities, and every qualified Abian deserves a seat at that table.”