Tag: minimum wage

Bayelsa Government has urged local government councils to shore up their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) to meet the new minimum wage obligations.

The state Deputy Governor, Sen Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call on Friday in Yenogoa while granting audience to the executive committee of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), local government branch.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advice is sequel to the announcement of N80,000 as minimum wage by Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa.

Ewhrudjakpo assured local government pensioners of the state government’s commitment towards improving their welfare as it took steps to implement the N80,000 new minimum wage in the state.

The deputy governor called on the councils to fashion out other sources of revenue rather than depend solely on monthly federal allocations.

He noted that it would be difficult for councils in the state to pay and sustain the new minimum wage if they continued to completely depend on statutory allocations.

Ewhrudjakpo said : “I have asked experts in that area to work out the new minimum wage to see what the local governments will be able to pay. I know that council workers will insist that they should be paid like their state counterparts.

Read Also: N80,000 minimum wage: Oyo NLC, Assembly hail Makinde

“But we should know that the state government and local governments do not have the same level or sources of funding. How many of our local governments are able to generate N100 million in the whole year? Just very few of them.

“As I said earlier, the details of what is going to cost each local government area must be worked out first because if we are not careful, our local government areas will go bankrupt.

“That is why I have told them to be very innovative and serious about generating revenue for the councils.

“There is nothing that stops you from collecting little money from people selling in the market. Or, collect licences fee from boat, motorbike, keke operators. That’s not a crime. It is legitimate,”.

Responding to the retirees’ requests, Ewhrudjakpo assured them that arrangements were underway to clear and pay pensioners who were inadvertently omitted in the payment of gratuities across the board last year.

He also promised to make some efforts to ensure that local government retirees have a share of the N7 billion the state government recently announced for the payment of outstanding gratuities.

On the issue of upward review of monthly pensions to the retirees, the deputy governor said such review would be based on the capacity of the local governments which currently depended mainly on monthly federal allocations.

He congratulated the executive committee members of the local government wing of the NUP on their recent inauguration, adding that government would look into their request for an operational vehicle, among others.

Earlier in his presentation, the Chairman of the local government branch of the NUP in the state, Mr Noel Itade, said their visit was to introduce the new executive committee members to the deputy governor.

Itade, who thanked the state government for approving N7 billion for gratuities, pleaded that local government pensioners who were omitted in the 2023 gratuity payment exercise be reconsidered for payment.

He also called for an upward review of their pensions to reflect the present economic realities in the country, as the Federal Government had done for its retirees.

(NAN) 

Following the approval of N80,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo State, Comrade Kayode Martins, has hailed Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as his magnanimity and care for the workers.

He says the governor has again shown he is a listening person and a true trailblazer, adding that it was the first time Oyo State workers would be earning more than their counterparts in the federal civil service.

Martins assured the governor that the workers would reciprocate the gesture by improving their productivity.

Read Also: First Lady: RHI is funded by private donors, corporate partners

Oyo House of Assembly has also lauded Makinde for his continuous worker friendly policies and approach.

A statement issued and signed yesterday by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin said: ‘’With this announcement, Oyo State leaps to the second spot, trailing only Lagos and Rivers States, which approved N85,000.’’

He said Oyo State had surpassed other leading states such as Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Edo and others in the amount approved as minimum wage.

Following the announcement of N80,000 minimum wage for workers in Oyo State by Governor Seyi Makinde, the Assembly has commended the Governor for his continuous worker-friendly policies and approach.

A statement by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin on Thursday said with this announcement, Oyo State leaps to the second spot, trailing only Lagos and Rivers States, which approved N85,000.

He said Oyo State surpasses other leading States like Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, and others in the amount approved as minimum wage.

“It is a good news that Governor Seyi Makinde has once again demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of workers in the state. The approval of N80,000 as the minimum wage for Oyo workers is a laudable decision that underscores the governor’s worker-centric approach to governance.

“This development is a significant milestone in His Excellency’s quest to improve the standard of living of our workers and promote industrial harmony in the state. 

Read Also: Minimum wage: Makinde to pay workers N80,000

“The N80,000 minimum wage is not just a monetary incentive; it’s a statement of our administration’s resolve to recognize the invaluable contributions of our workers to the development of Oyo State. We believe that a motivated workforce is essential to driving economic growth and prosperity in our state.”

The Speaker said despite not being among the states with highest allocation from the federation account, Governor Seyi Makinde’s gesture will serve as a model for other States to follow.

“This is a significant gesture, especially considering that the state doesn’t receive the highest allocation from the federation account. Makinde’s administration has consistently prioritized workers’ welfare and the state’s economic development. His policies have led to a remarkable growth in Oyo State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). 

“In fact, the state has seen a 90% increase in IGR through partnerships with the private sector and development agencies. This growth is a testament to the effectiveness of Makinde’s economic strategies.”

The Speaker urged workers to reciprocate this gesture by rededicating themselves to their duties and contributing to the overall development of Oyo State. 

He also called on the private sector to emulate the state government’s lead and prioritize the welfare of their employees.

Anambra labour leaders, on Friday, appealed to Gov. Charles Soludo to use the Federal Government’s template to compute the workers’ new minimum wage.

The President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Anambra Chapter, made the appeal in Awka, while briefing newsmen on the workers’ expectations from the new minimum wage.

Aromeh said that the organised labour in the state, comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NULGE, “are collectively appealing to Soludo, in the interest of workers, to use the chart released by the Federal Government.

“Yes, there is an issue of new minimum wage on ground and the labour leaders, including NLC, TUC and NULGE, have been meeting with the governor on the matter.

“In Anambra, unfortunately, the  governor is not getting it right, because from what we have seen from him and his team, we are not happy, especially in the areas that affect salaries Grade Levels eight to 17, government’s proposal is nothing to write home about,” he said.

Aromeh further said that though the government is basing its argument on its internally generated revenue, but available reports show that Anambra is far better than a number of states that have adopted the Federal Government’s template for the new minimum wage.

“The Federal Government’s chart must be used and not for the state to adopt a discriminatory package for workers on different grade levels.

“If what the state is bringing to the table is allowed, it means that as you progress, your take home pay will continue to go down,” he said.

Read Also: Ondo pays N73,000 minimum wage in November

The NULGE boss wondered why a worker on Grade Level one, step one, would earn N70,000 plus, while a staff on Grade Level eight would also earn N70,000 plus every month.

“It is wrong. The real thing should be done.

“NULGE is not happy about it and seriously pleading with the Anambra Government and Mr Governor as the father to use the chart used by the Federal Government.

“Gov. Soludo is friendly with Anambra workers and NULGE in particular, but on this new minimum wage, he is not protecting the collective interest of the workers.

“Our collective stand is that the normal chart be used, and everything worked out based on percentage.

“We are optimistic that he will do something, urgently, because he knows the economic hardship facing the workers,’’ he said.

Aromeh said that all the workers in the country operate in the same market and economy, hence no state should apply a template different from the one released by the Federal Government.

“If our governor does not adopt the Federal Government’s template, we have other options than giving him ultimatum or going to court because we do not want to bring problem in the state,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the government would reason with the workers to use the Federal Government’s template, due to the current economic hardship in the country. (NAN)

Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has assured civil servants that payment of the new minimum wage of ₦73,000 would commence in November this year.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who spoke while addressing civil servants in Akure, said  welfare of civil servants would continue to be a priority for his administration.

Aiyedatiwa stated that the committee set up to work out the implementation structure of the minimum wage has concluded its report.

He said he would give necessary approval for payment to begin.

Read Also: Gov Otu constitutes committee on N70,000 minimum wage

The Governor assured that he would surpass his current achievements if elected Governor in the November 16th governorship election.

He pledged to break his own record by delivering more for the workers.

“Anything we have done for civil servants has never been politically driven. If workers are not happy, they won’t be encouraged to put in maximum efforts into their work. That is why we have always prioritised their welfare”, the Governor said.

Ondo Head of Service, Mr. Bayo Philips, praised the Governor for creating a conducive environment for civil servants in the State.

Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has approved the constitution of a Joint Public Service Negotiating and Implementation Committee on N70,000 new National Minimum Wage in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr NSA Gil, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Friday in Calabar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on May 1, during the Workers Day celebration, Otu had announced a new minimum wage of N40,000 for workers of the state, an amount which was criticised by many of the workers.

Read Also: Ondo explains delay in minimum wage implementation

Gil noted that the committee was expected to commence sitting anytime from Nov. 1 subject to its convenience and round-up on time to enable compliance by the state.

The committee which has 16 members is to be headed by the state Head of Service, Dr Innocent Eteng.

Other members include Mr Gregory Olayi, state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Mr Monday Ogbodun, state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC). (NAN)