Ondo workers May Day gift

By Maria Famakinwa
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Shortly after Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made a pronouncement that the state will pay the N30,000 minimum wage, there was an eruption of joy from the workers as they joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s workers day, also known as May Day that characterised the struggles of workers for better welfare around the world since May 1, 1904.

 This year’s event tagged “Another 100 years of struggle for job, dignity and social justice in Nigeria”, held across the country was attended by organised workers, professionals, market men and women, members of the civil society organisations among others. It is a yearly celebration to appreciate workers for their contributions to the nation’s development and appeal to them to do more to take the country to an enviable height.

 The story was not different in Akure the Ondo State capital as workers both federal and state adorning different colors of vests with May Day inscription gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Igbatoro Road to celebrate the day amidst different expectations from the State and Federal Governments.

While speaking at this year’s May Day celebration, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu commended the state workers for their cooperation since the inception of his administration and also appreciated the state workers’ unions for the understanding displayed at difficult moment and called on workers to rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland and assured them of the readiness of his administration to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage.

His words: “This administration is ready to pay the new minimum wage as approved by law. My administration will continue to keep its promise to the workers and the people of the state.  Henceforth, primary school teachers will benefits from the state car loan scheme. We will continue to treat the welfare of civil servants as a priority.

“We have paid salaries of workers till date. We acknowledge the outstanding one month salary from the seven months arrears inherited from the previous government and we hope to offset this entitlement and other legitimate earnings as soon as the financial situation improves.”

The State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday commended the state government for its commitment to regular payment of salaries and promoting workers as and when due. He however said that organised labour could constructively criticize the state government at any time if needed.

 Adeleye also urged the governor to put in place necessary machinery for the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage.

The State Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Helen Odofin lauded the Governor for promising to implement the new minimum wage as she urged workers to reciprocate the good gestures of employers through loyalty and commitment to quality service delivery.

Some of the workers who spoke with The Hope commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the N30,000 minimum wage bill and Governor Akeredolu for promising to pay the new salary scale as they urged the President to see to the immediate implementation of the new salary.

A federal civil servant, Mrs Victory Ituah, who described the signing of the new minimum wage as May Day gift for Nigerian workers thanked the president for assenting to the bill and urged him to prevail on those concerned, so that, workers across the country can start receiving the new salary at the end of the month. “We appreciate the president for signing the new minimum wage which is long overdue and we are begging him again to see to the implementation, so that workers can start receiving the new salary at the end of May. “

Sharing similar sentiment, a state civil servant, Mr Yemi Lawal while congratulating workers on this year’s celebration lauded Governor Akeredolu for his readiness to pay N30,000 for the state workers as he described the Governor as a man of his words, added that no nation can develop without agile workforce. “Nigerian workers deserve commendations for their unalloyed support for the government to move the country forward in the face of economic hardship and struggle for survival. No amount of money or gifts can commensurate with the service civil servants are rendering for the nation’s development. That was why I was sad when they subjected the signing of the N30,000 new minimum wage to public debate. Thank God, that it was finally approved by the President and the State Governor is ready to pay it. We say thank you very much to Governor Akeredolu for agreeing to pay the new minimum wage. This is the way to gain workers support.”

Lawal, further commended the three labour groups in the country for their efforts which he said aided the signing into law of the new minimum wage and urged them not to relent until workers in the state and Federal start receiving the salary.

In the submission of another state civil servant, Mrs Idowu Adegbola, she also hailed the present administration for promising to pay the new minimum wage and advised against subjecting payment to VAT increase. She also appealed to labour union to ensure that every state government implement the new salary scale. “I want to appreciate Governor Akeredolu for making state workers happy with his promise to pay N30,000 as approved by the president, there is no better way to make  this year’s workers day memorable. I also commended the effort of the labour union at ensuring that the President approved the N30,000 minimum wage and to also urged them not to relent on their oars until every state government implement it from this May ending because some State Governors are still insisting that they cannot pay.”