Gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says he will pay workers above the recommended N30,000 benchmark if elected governor.
Sanwo-Olu, who met with Lagos civil servants at the state secretariat, on Thursday, also promised to enunciate and implement worker-friendly policies and generally improve their welfare.
The meeting with the civil servants, it was gathered, was initially planned to involve the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was, however, absent.
Sanwo-Olu, alongside his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, assured the workers that his administration would restore their benefits being denied them by the current administration, and as well carry them along if elected. The gubernatorial election is slated for March 9, 2019.
He stressed the need to pay attention to workers’ welfare because they would be the drivers of his vision for the state.
“As part of the motivation, we will take the minimum wage above the level presented at the National Assembly. And the payment will not exceed the 23rd of every month. This is part of the welfare package we have for civil servants in Lagos.
“We will also ensure a car package for senior staff members that have attained directors’ status in the public service. We cannot allow workers that are required to stay back and work to start looking for bus to convey them home at night.
“On the staff bus, I discovered that civil servants now pay to repair the vehicle. When elected, our administration will replace the rickety vehicles for the staff. All these, we believe would motivate the staff to deliver in every task they have been mandated to do,” he said.
He disclosed that his administration, when elected, would establish a platform for retired civil servants to act as volunteer workers, saying, we always have some civil servants that are still active but due to the public service barrier on age, they leave service.
“Some of these retired workers have acquired skills over the years. The retirement has barred them from further rendering their service to the state but they are active. So, we cannot allow them take that skill away. This is why we have concluded that when we are elected, such plan would be implemented in the state.”
Aside the welfare for workers, the APC candidate disclosed that his government would complete all existing projects, especially the Lagos-Badagry Expressway that serves as a major entry route for foreigners from Western African countries visiting Nigeria.
