In a desperate move to address the financial crisis the state find itself, the Ekiti State government has slashed the salaries of political appointees, permanent secretaries and other categories of workers in the state for the next three months.
Also, the government has partially suspended the minimum wage consequential adjustment already effected for workers on grade levels seven to twelve since January, 2021.
The governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi had at a recent stakeholders event informed the people that the state is facing serious financial crunch, explaining that some difficult but necessary decisions must be made for the government to keep up with its responsibilities.
Workers on grade levels one to six were lucky, as their N30,000 minimum wage was not adversely affected by the current decision.
The agreement was reached on Friday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the organised labour on the new salary regime.
It was agreed that the salaries of political appointees be slashed by 25 percent for a period of three months.
Representing the government at the meeting were the Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi , the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters, Mr Oluyemi Esan and the Permanent Secretary,Office of Establishment and Service Matters, Mr. Bayo Opeyemi .
The Chairmen, Nigerian Labour Congress, Kolapo Olatunde, his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Sola Adigun and that of the Joint Negotiating Council Kayode Fatomiluyi as well as their Secretaries, signed on behalf of the labour centres.
Contained in the signed agreement was the suspension of the consequential adjustment for certain categories of workers for a period of three months spanning between May and July, 2021.
The pact also included that the release of the running grant for the running of government office be reduced, while monthly meeting of the Economic Review Committee was mandated to convene five days after the meeting of the Federal Account Allocation Committee to keep the workers abreast of the state’s financial position.
In addition, ten percent internally generated revenue of the state being the state responsibility to Joint Account Allocation Committee be released to the local governments henceforth.
In the pact government assured that it won’t downsize or retrench any worker as a result of the present economic crunch hitting the state.
The Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi, while addressing the labour leaders, said Governor Kayode Fayemi had during a recent State of the State Finance programme presented the financial report of the state, where it was evident that the two sides must shift grounds as a response to the economic realities.
She said, “The revenue generating committee has been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the state work hard and rakes in more monies to finance the state.
“I am confident that governor Kayode Fayemi will surely bring his ingenuity and wealth of experience to bear and we shall navigate out of this difficult situation soon . We thank the labour leaders for their understanding and show of solidarity.”
Also speaking on the agreement, JNC Chairman, Fatomiluyi, said it is a known fact that Nigerians and especially workers are passing through hard economic situation that had affected every state of the federation.
“The government must adhere strictly to this agreement , because it is a painful one, but we call it a Doctrine of Necessity. We have to abide by it in the interest of our dear state and colleagues in the service.
“No labour leader would want his workers disengaged directly or indirectly and we thank the government for not thinking in this direction. That is the direction we want our colleagues to look at it.
“Even Aliko Dangote as rich as he is won’t want his money to be reduced by one naira let alone a worker in Ekiti. We are assuring our workers that we will continue to protect their rights always.”
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