A few days after removal of petroleum subsidy by the federal government, Oyo Sate governor, Seyi Makinde has stressed the need to constitute a committee to review workers’ wages in the state.
To begin the process a meeting between the state government and the labour was attended by chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kayode Martins and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Olatunbosun Olabiyi.
The deputy governor Bayo Lawal; head of service, Bunmi Oni; former deputy governor, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; former special adviser on labour, Bayo Titilola-Sodo and wife of former governor, Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja, were also at the meeting.
He said the committee has eight weeks to submit its report.
Makinde said constituting the committee became necessary in view of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He said, “For us, with all sincerity, I think it is time to engage and ensure that we are proactive, irrespective of what is coming from the federal level. We are already prepared for it here and we can run our own programmes.
“Yes, the fuel subsidy removal is going to affect all of us but we do have control over certain things in Oyo State, and one of these is to be proactive and engage ourselves.
“They may call for strike or certain actions at the federal level but the labour leaders in Oyo State must be aware of our own situation,” he said.
