The minister disclosed this on Tuesday after inspecting the project as well as the ongoing Court of Appeal building.
Wike said: “One is really impressed with what we have seen. I have come here to see for myself the report on the valuation of what we are supposed to pay. When I got the files for approval, I said, look, it would be proper for me to see for myself the kind of structures that we are going to pay for.
“I am happy with what I have seen. I will immediately approve it so that they can start paying the compensation so that the work will not be delayed. Well, if I remember vividly, the entire estimate they gave is about N1.1 billion to pay for those whose properties are affected, like some of these buildings you have seen here, down to the community. It is about N1.1 billion and we are going to make it available so that the contractor will not find any excuse for delay”.
Speaking on the N70,000 approved minimum wage, Wike reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
“It is the commitment made by the federal government under the Renewed Hope Agenda that workers’ wages should be increased, and in line with that, we have also adopted it and have also approved for the payment of the arrears as agreed with the labour”
“I expect that the workers will also see this as a boost and be more committed for us to achieve the development that is required in the city”, he stated.
