By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Workers in Oyo State have been assured by the Governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi, of government’s determination to pay the N30,000 minimum wage recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari without delay.
Mr Ajimobi, while addressing workers in the state during this year’s May Day rally on Wednesday, said as soon as the ongoing negotiations initiated by labour leaders with the government were concluded and documented, the enhanced salaries would be paid to elevate the living condition of the employees.
The Governor, who spoke yesterday through his Deputy, Mr Moses Adeyemo, at the rally held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, thanked the workers for their dedication and support in the past eight years.
He said they were the engine room of his administration’s successful implementation of its restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda.
The Governor used the occasion to assure workers affected by the recently-concluded certificate verification that those with genuine cases would be given a second opportunity to prove their innocence, stressing that those unable to defend their credentials would not be spared.
“I congratulate the workers on the new minimum wage, which has just been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“At the instance of the labour unions, government very recently held a meeting on the issue of the National Minimum Wage Law 2019, in furtherance of our responsibility as an employer of labour and indeed our exemplary government-labour relations.
“I wish to restate the commitment of the government of Oyo State to honoring the Minimum Wage Act as soon as ongoing negotiations are concluded and necessary templates and documentation are issued.
“I charge all workers to reciprocate the various good gestures of the state government by being more dedicated, proactive and punctual at their duty posts for increased productivity. The public service is no longer a dumping ground for people with mediocre ability. We all must stand up and stand right to reposition the system for better service delivery.
“The state government has approved that those that were affected by the recently concluded Certification Verification Exercise be given a second chance to re-verify their claims. Those with very genuine cases would be reconsidered, because we have no interest in punishing innocent people.
“However, unscrupulous elements parading fake and forged educational, birth and other extraneous documents would not be allowed a place in the service of the state,” Mr Ajimobi said.
Oyo State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran, and his Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) counterpart, Comrade Titilola Sodo, called on the government to be prepared to fulfill its side of the bargain on the new minimum wage as soon as talks were concluded.
Comrade Sodo appealed to the government to provide a conducive environment and necessary tools for workers to enhance their productivity and wellbeing.
The traditional May Day rally was made colourful by the attendance of representatives of various trade unions and associations, labour leaders, members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, captains of industry and members of the public.
