Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki has increased the minimum wage for Edo workers from N40,000 to N70,000 effective from May 1, 2024.
Obaseki disclosed this while delivering his speech at the commissioning of the Edo State Labour House Complex, a new building to serve as the secretariat of the Labour Unions in the state.
The action of the governor comes barely five months before the governorship election in September where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being fiercely challenged by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
To rule out political consideration in his action, the governor named the building located at Temboga, Ikpoba Hill in Benin City after his predecessor and former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is now an APC senator.
Guests at the occasion included Edo State deputy governor Marvellous Godwins Omoboyo; speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, the secretary to the state government (SSG) and PDP deputy governorship candidate, Osarodion Ogie, the chief of staff to the governor, Dr Osaigbovo Iyoha, the head of service (HoS), Anthony Okungbowa and the state PDP chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi.
Others were the president of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, chairman of the NLC in Edo State, Comrade Odion Olaye, and commissioners.
The governor said, “As a result of the cordial relationship between the Edo State government and labour unions in the state, we have enjoyed peace and industrial harmony in Edo State. Despite our efforts to make life easier for Edo State workers, there are forces beyond our control, as we don’t control the national economy and our workers are still languishing in pain and penury.
“I give you insurance, improved conditions of service, pay you, and promote you on time but the truth is that because of the economic situation in Nigeria today, our workers continue to be challenged; by devaluation, high food prices, and inflation have made nonsense of the N40, 000 we are paying you.
“As a government, we feel your pains and know your take-home pay can barely take you home. We will continue to try. I am one of those governors who believe that we can’t run away from the fact that we must adjust the minimum wage in Nigeria. It would have been nice to have a central cohesive and common approach. We would have expected that by now there should have been a direction as to what minimum wage will be for workers in Nigeria.”
He added, “We don’t know when that will happen. If it happens, fine, if not, as a state we would have to do what we need to do. For us in Edo State, we have decided to move the minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000 effective from 1st of May 2024. I think like a capitalist and not a comrade. In my May Day speech, I will give more details on our new minimum wage. If the Federal Government imposes something higher, we will make the necessary adjustments.”
Commending the labour unions for their sustained partnership with the state government leading to the industrial harmony enjoyed in the state, “You have joined us to deeply pursue institutional reforms in the state as our achievements have been made possible because of the cordial relationship we enjoy.
“Labour-government relationship should not be only at policy contestation level but should be an alignment towards a common goal for workers and that is what we have found in Edo. Government and labour have found a common ground to improve the lives of the workers in Edo State.”
Obaseki further stated, “This building was conceived by my predecessor in office and my contribution is to make it happen. We have continued to invest in our workers in Edo State and our achievement in Edo State is to contribute to the welfare and well-being of Edo State workers. We not only developed the work environment but emphasised building the capacity of Edo State workers. We continue to emphasise training and restraining as an integral part of our workforce as we believe that there is a connection between high performance and training.”
In his speech, the head of service(HoS), Okungbowa commended the governor’s commitment to the welfare of Edo workers, noting that some of his achievements including fully digitalizing the state civil service, prompt payment of salaries, highest minimum wage in Nigeria, payment of 13th-month salary, life insurance for Edo workers, health insurance for workers, automatic employment for first-class citizens of Edo State, regular promotion for Edo workers, among others.
On his part, Osifo said the building is the best labour edifice, adding that “the achievements of the governor are not contestable.”
In his welcome address, Odion Olaye thanked the governor for his magnanimity, friendliness, and concern towards Edo workers.
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