N35,000 wage award: Oyo govt tells workers to show understanding
Yinka ADETUNJI
Ahead the expiration of the 7-day ultimatum on October 31, given to the Oyo state government by the state labour unions in respect of the wage award by the federal government, an appeal has gone to the workers to compliment the efforts the government is making on their welfare by being reflective when considering nation-wide strike.
In a release by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, Friday, it’s stated no state in the federation places more emphasis on the well-being of its workers than the present administration: Not even richer states.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Oyo state branches, gave the state government till the end of October, 2023 to approve the N35, 000 wage award for civil servants and N20, 000 for pensioners, as approved by the federal government, to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The release noted that without being advised by the state NLC, the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, out of his personal discretion, set up a committee on June 5, 2023, to review salaries of workers, barely a week after President Tinubu’s announcement of the removal of subsidy.
“This same administration has consistently for 55 months, paid workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month, and paid 13th month salaries for 4 years, which now includes state pensioners.’
Also, workers and the people of the state were urged to recollect that the Seyi Makinde-led administration at inception increased payment of gratuities to pensioners from N100m to over N200m every month. “In fact, only last month, cheques worth N208m were released as gratuities to pensioners in Oyo state.
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“While it is a fact that the financial state of the nation requires increment of workers’ salaries, Oyo state workers equally reserve the right to seek local solutions in dialogue with a friendly government, especially on issues that are not caused by the state government, such as the fuel subsidy removal.”
According to the release, “the state government has responded swiftly and effectively to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal by setting up the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) intervention in the state, which is addressing the current economic realities in the state.
“In this regard, different types of essential food items are being distributed to the poorest of the poor, while 46 buses are plying roads in Oyo state, at subsidised fares.
“Farmers and young entrepreneurs are being assisted with N1.5bn soft loans, through zonal Microfinance banks, while pensioners and other vulnerables in the society are being assisted through specially designed free healthcare schemes.
“The third phase of SAfER will take off in due course.
“It is on record also, that the Oyo State government started the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage, over 3 years ago, yet up till now, some states in the federation are still struggling to pay the old wage.
“The challenges of paying N7.3 billion monthly salaries notwithstanding, the Seyi Makinde administration distributed 7,000 letters of promotion to qualified civil servants just last week.”
It is further noted, “we are talking about an administration that has made a covenant with its workforce and local dialogue and understanding should take precedence over instructions from elsewhere.
Beyond ultimatum and deadline, labour leaders should take advantage of the cordial relationship that exists between them and the government and accept the olive branch.”
Truly the Oyo State government has been workers friendly all these while, the govt is appreciated for that.
But it is a pity that the state government is not considerate enough by not been proactive towards the unprecedented suffering of the workers in the state triggered by fuel subsidy removal. The govt claimed to put in place a committee since june 5, and up till now, no meaningful resolutions to cushion the life threatening effects of the hardship has been reached/implemented. The suffering for the past 5 months had destroy the happiness in many homes and rendered many sick, which the government may not feel as they are not affected in any way, their movement, feeding and other activities are smoothly attended to, but for the poor workers, 35k wage award that can’t by 2liters of fuel per day in average is to much not to talk of other things like food stuff that shoot up abruptly. No family of the workers can boast of having 3 meals per day, workers are now struggling to survive.
Workers can’t afford children school needs at ease.
In reality, 35k can only buy 56.45 liters of fuel at N620/liter which is 1.88 liters per day. Haba! The government should be considerate enough to let workers breathe. Workers also need to live because they have lives.
35k is not too much to award to workers.
You made valid points.