Nigeria, Jan. 17 -- Organised Labour in Akwa Ibom State is bracing itself for a showdown with the Akwa Ibom State Government over the "failure" of the latter to commence payment of the new minimum wage in January.

Governor Umo Eno had approved N80,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state, which is N10,000 higher than the N70,000 national wage approved by the federal government.

Unlike his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara who approved N85,000 as the new minimum wage and began payment in November with October arrears to come later, Mr Eno conditioned the commencement on the completion of staff verification.

However, Mr Eno bowed to pressure from Labour in the state and signed an agreement to commence payment of the...