Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has initiated actions to address the impact of the Federal Government’s removal of oil subsidies by reviewing the salaries of civil servants in the state. This move comes just before the anticipated nationwide strike by labor unions across the country.
To tackle the issue, the governor has formed a committee comprising representatives from both the labor unions and the state government. The committee includes officials such as the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries in charge of Service Matters and Establishment, the Director of Service Matters, the Director of Establishment, the Accountant General of the state, and the Permanent Secretary of Finance.
Representing the organized labor are the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), and the Chairman of the Association of Senior Staff.
During a meeting with the labor union leaders at the Executive Council Chambers on Monday, Governor Makinde instructed the committee to propose a viable minimum wage within eight weeks.
He emphasized the administration’s commitment to proactive measures and stated that Oyo State has the potential to pay salaries higher than the national minimum wage if resources allow and the economy expands.
Governor Makinde assured that there is no trust deficit between the government and labor in the state. He expressed his administration’s determination to enhance the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to provide the state with more opportunities to meet the needs of its people.
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Mr. Kayode Martins, who led the organized labor, acknowledged the long-overdue review of the minimum wage and highlighted the hardships faced by Nigerian workers since the cessation of fuel subsidies. He also urged the Federal Government to approach the issue of fuel subsidy removal with caution.