By Bisi Olominu
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The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has allayed the fear of some civil servants that implementation of the new National Minimum Wage of N30,000 by the Ondo state government might lead to retrenchment of workers.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), had expressed his readiness to pay workers the new wage when passed into law by the National Assembly.

Comrade Bola Taiwo, the NULGE President in Ondo state, who spoke at a media parley in Akure, the Ondo state capital, disagreed with some governors who said the new minimum wage if implemented would lead to disengagement of workers.

On welfare of members, the President appealed to Governor Akeredolu to ensure that 2018 promotion letters of local government workers are handed over to the deserving workers without further delay, to boost their morale and enable them sustain their unalloyed support for the state government.

Taiwo noted that state governors in the country have what it takes to pay N30,000 as the new minimum wage.

He also advised the Senate to approve the new National Minimum Wage bill as passed by the House of Representatives to enable President Muhammadu Buhari assent to it on time.

While reiterating the Union’s stand on autonomy for the local government, the NULGE President condemned the idea of appointment of caretaker committees for the running of the local government , saying it is alien to the nation’s constitution.

Taiwo urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution in a way that it would allow Salary Commission in the country to deduct the salaries of the three tiers of government directly during the monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.

Taiwo commended the state governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu for prompt payment of salaries, especially the outstanding arrears, revealing that five of the seven months arrears had been paid by the present administration.

The NULGE boss also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing massive roads construction and rehabilitation across the 18 local government areas of the state.