……..Calls for the approval of the N30,000 National Minimum Wage by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
By Emmanuel Adeniran, Ado Ekiti.
The Labour Union Leaders in Ekiti State have expressed confidence in the ability of the Government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi to implement the N30,000 New National Minimum Wage when signed into law by the Federal Government. The Labour Leaders stated this at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday during a peaceful rally organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) round Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, to drum support for the New Minimum Wages.
The Labour Leaders who spoke on behalf of the Workers during the protest recalled that how Dr. Kayode Fayemi was the only Governor to review the workers’ salaries and emoluments three different times during his first tenure while in Office as Governor of the State. They pointed out that the Govenor Fayemi-led Government also paid a little above the minimum wage for its workers.
They expressed confidence in the strength, ability and commitment of Governor Fayemi looking back at his antecedent that his new government would effect the N30,000 minimum wage for the Ekiti State Workers.
The Ekiti State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) State Chairman, Prince Ade Adesanmi “expressed hope that Governor Fayemi will pay the New Minimum Wage once it is approved and signed into Law by President Muhammadu Buhari for the entire workforce in the Country. The Ekiti Labour Boss recounted how the Governor was the first to implement the N18,000 naira minimum wage during his first term in office in full compliance with the workers relativity scale as well as the Conhess/Conmess for workers in the State”.
The labour leaders vowed to declare a major strike action if the minimum wage was not signed into law. They urge the Governor to join his colleagues to prevail on the Federal Government to effect the new minimum wage.
“Governor Fayemi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, assured the workers that the state government is not only interested in increasing their wages, but also to promote work friendly environment that would enhance their productivity. This government came on board as a worker friendly one and that relationship shall be sustained. We shall create a conducive working environment for workers and we shall engage in human capital development and capacity building to motivate the Ekiti workers”, the Governor stated.
“The Governor reiterated the determination of his administration to take workers welfare and regular payment of salaries as his priority, noting that workers are currently being underpaid and as such, should not be denied of regular and timely payment of their salaries. The Governor promised to take the workers requests to the Governors Forum holding in Abuja with the aim of resolving the minimum wage issue to forestall the Nationwide strike”.
The Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka who was also present where the workers were being addressed, called for the review of the revenue allocation formula to favour the Government at the lower levels in order to accommodate the new minimum wage.
Earlier, the National Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Solomon Adelegan and the State TUC Chairman, Comrade Odunayo Adesoye both emphasized the need to implement the N30,000 being agitated to forestall the Nationwide strike billed to come.
