UPDATE: Oyo govt agrees to pay N30,000 minimum wage

The Oyo State Government and the labour movement in the state, on Wednesday, reached an agreement to pay the minimum wage of N30,000.53, alongside agreed consequential adjustments across all levels of public and civil servants in the state.

The new minimum wage shall financially take effect from January 1, 2020, with arrears of January to be paid in March, while nominal effective date of the new minimums wage was agreed to be April 18.

Meanwhile, the committee agreed to review the consequential adjustments every three months, noting that the current adjustments were based on the government’s level of “affordability and sustainability”.

Secretary to the Oyo State Government, who doubles as Chairperson of the minimum wage negotiation committee, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, made this announcement after she and other members of the committee signed the agreement at governor’s office, Ibadan.

Others who signed the agreement included Chairperson, Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo; Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Mr Emmanuel Ogundiran; Head of Service, Mrs Aminat Agboola; Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Adeniyi Farinto.

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Furthermore, the committee agreed that negotiations on tertiary institutions salary structure should be concluded at its next meeting, while the state should review its pension in line with the federal government circular.

An agreement was also reached that the current tax regime in the state should be maintained and all special and existing allowances should also be sustained.

The minimum wage is to be applicable to all ministries, departments and agencies of government, local governments, parastatals and primary school teachers in the state.

Speaking on the agreement reached, Adeosun said, “We just reached a landmark point in the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde today.

“In the past few weeks, you are aware that we have been negotiating based on the agreement reached at the federal level on the minimum wage and consequential adjustments for the workers in Oyo State.

“We have just signed our agreement and the highlight of the agreement signed is that the least paid worker in Oyo state will earn over N30,000 monthly in agreement with the minimum wage signed at the federal level.

“We have also agreed with our colleagues that the consequential adjustment required as a result of that minimum wage reached has also been agreed and reached. It has been a long process. We have had to look deeply into the books and all the factors required to ensure that even as we signed this agreement today, we get to an agreement that is sustainable, agreeable and affordable for the government and people of Oyo State. We have made an informed decision.”