Following the threat from organised labour, including Labour Congress of Nigeria (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the issue of the new minimum wage, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has pledged to prioritise workers’ welfare by paying wages, salaries, leave bonuses and other allowances promptly.
Governor Abiodun, who spoke at send-off ceremony organised for the outgoing Head of Service, Olanrewaju Bisiriyu and 13 other permanent secretaries that were recently retired in the State Civil Service in Abeokuta, declared that the present government would continue to take action that guarantees industrial harmony between government and labour.
Although the governor reiterated that the government would pay workers based on consequential adjustments as agreed by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Presidency, he is, however, silent on when Ogun State government would start paying the new minimum wage.
Read Also: Ogun workers leaders remained sacked as Amosun brokers truce on strike
“I am happy that the outgoing Head of Service mentioned that Ogun State civil servants work with the utmost professionalism as longstanding legacies of the former Heads of Service like Pa Simeon Adebo, Pa AK Degun, Chief Poju Adeyemi and we implore the State Civil Service to sustain the utmost professionalism in its day-to-day activities.
“Our administration will continue to take the welfare of civil servants as a priority to guarantee industrial harmony. We shall continue prompt payment of salaries, leave bonuses and other allowances. And we shall not forget to pay our senior citizens their pensions and gratuities,” the governor said.
Earlier, Isiaka Olanrewaju Bisiriyu, the outgoing Head of Service tasked the entire workforce in the state to work diligently to sustain the lofty dreams and aspiration of the State founding fathers in order to sustain the good name and recognition accorded Ogun in the comity of Nigerian states.
He also challenged Governor Abiodun-led administration to sustain prompt payment of salaries, leave bonuses and other allowances for the state workers as well as pensions and gratuities for retired ones.
He said, “Your commitment and undeterred passion towards evolving a better civil/public service through workers welfare, timely payment of salaries and other allowances and more importantly – capacity building through human capital development cannot be overemphasised.”
Razaq Ayinla, Abeokuta
