May Day: Osun workers urge Oyetola to implement new minimum wage

As workers celebrates May Day on Wednesday, civil servants in Osun under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have implored Governor Gboyega Oyetola to implement the minimum wage in order to boost the economy of the state.

The state chairmen of NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Jacob Adekomi and Comrade Adekola Adebowale respectively made the appeal during the 2019 Workers’ Day celebration in Osogbo.

Adebowale implored the governor to implement the new minimum wage, expressing optimism that it would boost the purchasing power of workers in the state.

He stated, “we have no doubt whatsoever that as soon as payment is effected, the economy will be further stimulated, while the morale of workers will equally be energized towards higher productivity.”

In his remark, the NLC chairman, Comrade Adekomi urged the state government to commence negotiations with the leadership of the state labour in earnest to fashion modalities of paying the new minimum wage.

He charged the governor to look into the arrears of salary and pensions, gratuities, contributory pension scheme, monetising the last promotion exercise among others.

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Oyetola, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Olugboyega Alabi recalled that since the creation of the state in 1991, workers have proved themselves as a formidable and competitive entity which had promoted the state as a force to reckon with.

He contended that “as an administration, we are creatively and strategically working on diversifying our economy by joining forces with development partners to boost agriculture, mining and other sectors.”

“We are engaging in all these initiatives to deliver the good life to our workers and the people. By the time all these interventions are completed, the state would have moved away from dependence on Federation Account allocation to a self-sufficient entity envisaged by our founding fathers.”

While commending the workers’ union across the state, Oyetola advised workers to approach their jobs with renewed vigour and commitment and embrace the government agenda for development.