Abstract
The essence of minimum wage fixation is to prevent exploitation of workers and enhance their productivity. The 2011 Minimum Wage Act stipulates that both the federal and state governments should pay the minimum wage of N18000 to their workers as a way of motivating and enhancing their productivity. Against this backdrop, this study explored the link between the implementation of Minimum Wage (MW) Act and workers' productivity in Federal Ministry of Labour, Abia State between 2011 and 2016. Specifically, the study seeks to examine whether the implementation of the 2011 National Minimum Wage Act accounted for the increase in workers' productivity in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Abia State between 2011 and 2016, in Abia State within the study period. The study is anchored on Abraham Maslow's Motivation theory. We utilized survey method, using instruments of questionnaire and interview; and documentary method to generate the relevant data, which were analyzed using tables and simple percentage difference as well as content analysis. The study ascertained that the implementation of the 2011 Minimum Wage Act accounted for the increase in workers' productivity in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Abia State in terms of revenue generation and number of inspection visits. Among others, the study recommends that minimum wage should be reviewed every five years, as contained in the Minimum Wage Act,as a way of motivating workers for effectiveness and increase in productivity.