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Tag: workers

  • When government cheats its own workers

    When government cheats its own workers

    • By Prof Leonard Karshima Shilgba

    Sir: Every month, thousands of federal workers watch deductions disappear from their payslips—contributions to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) under the Pension Reform Act 2014 and to the National Housing Fund (NHF) under the National Housing Fund Act. These deductions are not voluntary; they are statutory. They are meant to secure the dignity of workers in retirement and to offer them a pathway to home ownership while still in service.

    Yet, for some time now, the federal government has been guilty of a shocking breach of trust: the systematic failure to remit these deductions to workers’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) and Housing Fund Accounts (HFA).

    This practice is not merely an administrative lapse—it is an ethical scandal and a legal violation. Section 11(3)(b) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 requires every employer to remit both the employee’s and employer’s contributions to the Pension Fund Custodian not later than seven working days from the day the employee is paid his salary. Similarly, the National Housing Fund Act mandates employers to remit contributions to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Failure to remit is therefore a breach of the law, plain and simple.

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    But the consequences go beyond legality. By withholding these remittances, the government inflicts irreparable harm on its workers:

    Retirees discover, too late, that their pension balances are grossly underfunded, condemning them to financial insecurity at a vulnerable stage of life.

    Workers are denied access to NHF-backed mortgage loans, even though deductions have been made from their salaries in trust.

    Both groups lose out on accrued yields—the compounded investment returns that would have accumulated had their funds been promptly remitted.

    In effect, workers are cheated twice: first, by the illegal withholding of their contributions, and second, by the forfeiture of the investment income they should have earned.

    And where is the National Assembly in all this? The legislature, constitutionally charged with oversight, has looked away as executive agencies and ministries flout the law with impunity. Committee hearings come and go, but no real sanctions are imposed. Reports are written, but accountability is missing. By failing to call the federal government and its agencies to order, the National Assembly has become complicit in this injustice. Silence in the face of systemic wrongdoing is itself a betrayal of Nigerian workers.

    This crisis is not just about mismanagement of funds; it is about the moral contract between the government and the governed, which has been violated by the government. How can a government insist on discipline from the workforce when it itself defaults in the most basic obligation of trust?

    The solution is clear: The federal government must remit all outstanding pension and housing deductions, with interest, into workers’ accounts. The National Assembly must summon and sanction defaulting agencies, not with empty rhetoric but with enforceable resolutions. Workers should be able to independently verify that deductions have been credited to their accounts within the statutory seven-day period; and where remittances delays happen, penalty payments by government should be transparently reflected enough for workers to know.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other organized labour groups must rise beyond token protests. They must make this injustice a defining battle for workers’ dignity. Civil society organizations, the media, and the public must join hands to demand restitution.

    Nigeria cannot build a just and prosperous society while robbing the very people who serve it daily. The measure of a government is how it treats the labour of its people. On this measure, by withholding pension and housing remittances, our government has failed.

    The time for excuses is over. Justice demands restitution. Nigerian workers must not wait silently. Their unions must act, and civil society must amplify. Together, the voices of the cheated must become too loud to ignore. Workers deserve better, not bitter treatment from the government and its institutions that should protect them.

    •Prof Leonard Karshima Shilgba,

    <shilgba@gmail.com>

  • What workers should do for a rewarding retirement

    What workers should do for a rewarding retirement

    As the workforce continues its growth and transformation, the imperative of robust retirement planning becomes increasingly pronounced. For those enrolled in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), the key to a secure and rewarding retirement lies in making informed financial decisions sooner rather than later. This article seeks to empower workers with knowledge on navigating Nigeria’s CPS, ensuring not just a prosperous but a worry-free retirement in line with the Pension Reform Act 2014.

    The CPS was designed to offer a sustainable and efficient retirement savings framework for both public and private sector workers in Nigeria. Encouraging active participation from both employers and employees, this system ensures the accumulation of a substantial retirement fund for workers. Here are some essential steps to consider when preparing for retirement under the CPS:

    Understand the CPS

    According to the National Pension Commission (PenCom), understanding pension plans, including minimum contribution rates, Voluntary Contributions (VCs), the Multi-Fund Structure utilised by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and returns on investments by PFAs, is crucial. Seeking clarifications from your PFA or PenCom can mitigate uncertainties and enable informed decisions about retirement savings.Given the periodic reviews and updates by PenCom on pension regulations, workers must stay abreast of changes to enable them take advantage of new opportunities and ensure compliance that could impact their retirement savings. For instance, it is advised that RSA holders not registered on the Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS) should participate in the Data Recapture Exercise (DRE) by their PFAs.

    Start early, and benefit more

    PenCom further said that it is the responsibility of the employee, on whose behalf pension contributions are made, to open a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with any Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) of their choice as soon as they start earning a salary or income. Only after opening an RSA will the employee receive a unique RSA Personal Identification Number (PIN), which is then used to remit monthly contributions to the PFA. Therefore, without an RSA, the employer cannot remit monthly pension contributions for the employee.

    If the employee fails to open an RSA within six months of starting employment, the employer is obliged to open a nominal RSA for the employee with any PFA for the purpose of remitting the employee’s monthly contributions. Any delay in remitting pension contributions is likely to affect the expected return on the investment of the pension contributions due to the employee.

    Workers in the informal sector, who are not covered under the mandatory CPS, are advised to enrol in the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) to benefit from compounded returns on investment. Early enrolment in the CPS allows for the compounding of interest on pension savings over time, even with modest monthly contributions, resulting in a substantial savings for retirement.

    Determine retirement goals

    Depending on retirement goals, an employee may choose to make voluntary contributions alongside the mandatory contributions remitted by the employer. The PRA 2014 permits additional contributions beyond the eight per cent minimum contribution from the employee’s emolument. This allows workers to tailor their savings towards a more robust pension. Employers are also allowed to contribute more on behalf of their employees beyond the statutory minimum of 10 per cent.

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    An employee may also elect to make Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC), from the salary into the RSA to boost pension savings.To make AVC, all you need to do is inform your employer to make the necessary deductions from your monthly salary.

    For employers with high retirement goals for their employees, the PRA 2014 allows them to establish Additional Benefits Schemes (ABS), through which they can provide enhanced retirement benefits, including gratuity payments, to their employees. This means that employers have the flexibility to offer additional severance benefits beyond the mandatory retirement benefits stipulated, depending on the terms of employment, affordability, and collective bargaining.

    Furthermore, employees have the right to choose where their pension fund should be invested. An employee, who is below 50, may choose to move from the default Fund II to an aggressive Fund I to boost their RSA balance. Also, depending on risk appetite, contributors who are 50 years and above in Fund III are allowed to move to Fund II by making a formal request to the PFA if they wish to boost their RSA balance because of high return on investment.

    Understand modes of withdrawals

    For a rewarding retirement, it is important that pension contributors understand the two modes of accessing retirement benefits under the CPS. At retirement, an employee has the option to select either Programmed Withdrawal from a PFA or Retiree Life Annuity (RLA) from a Life Assurance company. In both options, a lump sum payment is allowed to be accessed by the retiree. It is imperative that workers understand the features of the payment modes before choosing anyone.

    So, preparing for retirement under the CPS demands proactivity, financial literacy, and discipline. Embracing these principles will not only benefit individuals but also contribute to a more resilient and financially robust society.

  • ‘We’ll prioritise workers’ health well-being’

    ‘We’ll prioritise workers’ health well-being’

    Group Managing Director of Chemstar Group, Adedayo Paseda, has restated the company’s commitment to enhance safety and welfare of workers.

     He spoke during 2024 Chemstar Industries Health & Safety Week, with the theme: “Personal Health and Workplace Safety in a Challenging Economy.”

    The week is an annual event of Chemstar Group to broaden the knowledge of workers on living healthy lifestyle, keep fit and keep safe.

    Activities for the week, which coincided with the 29th anniversary of the company, include Health Talk by Prof Osunkalu Oluseye, a professor of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at College of Medicine, University of Lagos; medical check.

     Managing Director of Matrag Foods, one of its subsidiaries, Dr Tunde Olaniya, said the week was introduced to create awareness among workers to promote healthy living and safe working environment.

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    According to him, the HMO enlightenment was to better educate the staff about the health policy that was introduced by the company two years ago; especially the benefits of the policy and to interface with the HMO officials on how to further engage their services. On the fire talk and demonstration, the GMD explained that it is crucial to the safety of the company and workers in the area of fire prevention and how fire incidents could be avoided or prevented. The Chief Fire Officer/Head Fire & Rescue Unit of LASBCA, Mrs Johnson-Agiri Funmilayo, lauded the management for being safety conscious and partnering with the state fire service on the Week.

     She spoke on the need for investments on workplace safety, even as she advised the company on the need for Fire Safety Marshals, who should be regularly trained, saying that a safe working environment is important and crucial for the company’s success and personnel well-being.

  • Fed Govt plans productivity-based wage system for workers

    Fed Govt plans productivity-based wage system for workers

    • Shettima to speak at NPC summit

    A new wage system based on employee’s productivity in the civil service is underway, the Federal Government said yesterday.

    The government explained that with the system, workers on the same level could earn different wages.

    It said the formulation of an innovative wage system was being considered because it realised that productivity is a key factor in the growth of the economy.

    The Director General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC), Dr. Nasir Raji-Mustapha, announced this at a meeting with Labour Correspondents yesterday in Abuja.

    He said: “We are in the process of developing a productivity-led wage system that will ensure that those who are productive are rewarded for their efforts, irrespective of their grade level. Under the proposed system, employees on the same salary scale can earn different wages.”

    When asked if the new proposal on a productivity-led wage system was having the support and input of organised labour, the NPC boss said such a task could not be carried out without the input of labour.

    Raji-Mustapha said: “Of course, labour, as a critical stakeholder, is being carried along in this exercise. As researchers, we don’t just do things without considering the recipient of the reports.

    “When we started the project about three or four years ago, we held a stakeholders’ forum in which the labour unions participated. We even went further to send memoranda to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to ask if they would support the proposed wage system and they said they would welcome it.”

    He said the report on the first phase of the study was ready, adding that the next stage would be to engage various stakeholders to consider and make input before finally presenting it to the Federal Government for its consideration and possible adoption.

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    Raji-Mustapha said the centre was collaborating with a number of international agencies and organisations to ensure that productivity and skills of Nigerian workers improve to impact positively on the economy.

    The NPC boss said the centre had widened its scope of collaborations with international agencies, such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JACA), Africa Productivity Association, and Asia Productivity Association.

    According to him, the NPC has done a lot in the area of productivity promotion and advocacy for youths, especially the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members at their camps.

    Raji-Mustapha said the NPC had resuscitated the preaching and promotion of productivity at the NYSC camps.

    He announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima would be the keynote speaker at the two-day National Productivity Summit organised by the centre and holding today in Abuja.

    “The summit is very important because in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, you will agree with me that there is a need for increased productivity.

    “We must harness the power of science, technology and innovation and use them to optimise the resources in the country, and the VP is the keynote speaker,” he added.

  • NPA moves to avert workers’ strike

    NPA moves to avert workers’ strike

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello Koko yesterday,  brokered peace between the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and marginal field operators of the oil and gas industry over non-compliance with stevedoring regulations.

    Appealing to the workers during the meeting, Bello Koko said “we will do all it takes to ensure industrial harmony and prevent the shutdown of crucial production platforms of the Oil and Gas and allied industries that maritime workers control. The national economy cannot afford any shutdown at this time,” he said.

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    The meeting which culminated in the signing of a communique addressing the workers’ grievances and subsequent suspension of planned strike action, had in attendance the Executive Vice-President (Down Stream) for Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Mr. Adedapo Segun, Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, President National Association of Stevedoring Operators (NASO) Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, Managing Director Nigerian Pipeline Storage Company (NPSC) Mr. Bayo Adenrele and Assistant Director Distribution System, Storage and Retail Infrastructure of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) amongst other industry leaders.

    The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria had issued an ultimatum to shutdown ALL Oil Production and allied platforms over non-compliance with the stevedoring regulations, lack of access to work locations, lack of remittance of three per cent MWUN levy by stevedores.

  • Ekiti workers to get N15,000 wage award for six months

    Ekiti workers to get N15,000 wage award for six months

    Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has approved the payment of N15,000 wage award for workers as part of measures put in place to cushion the effect of the current economic situation in the country.

    The payment will run for six months pending the time an agreement is reached on minimum wage for workers.

    According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, pensioners in the state will also receive N10,000 wage award for six months as approved by Governor Oyebanji.

    The wage award takes effect from this month.

    Governor Oyebanji has also approved payment of July 2018 salary arrears to local government workers and primary school teachers across the 16 local governments.

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    The payment is in fulfilment of the governor’s promise to prioritise workers’ welfare and well-being as well as his pledge to ensure outstanding entitlements of workers, owed by previous administrations, are paid.

    The governor had put in place some palliative measures for workers in the wake of the subsidy removal. This include payment of some outstanding entitlements, extension of the minimum wage to senior workers on level 14 to 17 as well as provision of shuttle buses for workers and students.

  • Kano uncovers 13-year-old girl, corpers among ineligible workers collecting salaries

    Kano uncovers 13-year-old girl, corpers among ineligible workers collecting salaries

    The Kano State Government led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has laid off at least 3,234 employees including a 13 year old girl recruited by the immediate past administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje towards end of the tenure.

    About 9,332 workers employed at the end of the immediate past administration were however lucky as they were retained for their jobs.

    Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, made this known yesterday while briefing newsmen on the report of the 22-member committee set up by the government to ascertain the processes followed in recruiting the persons.

    Dr. Bichi said the sacked workers were ineligible to be in the state’s civil service on the grounds that some of them were underage, junior and secondary school students while others were still undergoing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and some with forged certificates, among others.

    He said the government had validated the employment of the 9,332 others as their salaries would be restored in a matter of time.

    Recall that the state government had upon assuming office stopped the salaries of over 10,000 workers recruited by the Ganduje administration at the tail end of the government and set up a committee to verify the process of their employment.

    “Based on the observations and recommendations of the Technical Committee, the Governor, owing to his concern and humane disposition, has approved as follows: Reinstatement of a total of 9,332 staff that were found eligible by the committee. Proper placement and posting/deployment of eligible staff to relevant MDAs for optimal utilisation should be undertaken.

    “The Verification Committee Report was received by Government and its salient observations and recommendations were noted and accepted as follows: That majority of the employments were not captured in the 2023 Approved Budget.

    “That the employment did not take consideration of the actual manpower needs of the respective MDAs but was influenced by the desire to tie down the new Administration financially.

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    “Similarly, most of those employed did not undergo processes of screening and recruitment interviews as expected by the service regulations while significant percentage of those employed had neither applied nor indicated interest to serve, which form major aspect of employment requirement.

    “That a number of students in their active study years were also found to be employed, including students of junior secondary schools, senior secondary schools and some in their early stages of tertiary education while a number of persons recruited were found to be undergoing their National Service Programme (NYSC). Equally, a number of persons confirmed to be overage or under-aged were found to be employed and on the State payroll.

    “A number of those employed were found to have suspicious or forged certificates, while many non-indigenes were employed in spite of a large number of qualified unemployed indigenes roaming our streets.

    “That those employed were wrongly placed through deployment to non-career post or the calling of their respective qualifications; and that there were gross where officers with higher qualifications attracting senior cadre were employed on the junior cadre of the service contrary to the needs of the MDAs and approval granted for such employments.”

  • Yusuf sacks 3,234 workers in Kano

    Yusuf sacks 3,234 workers in Kano

    The Kano State Government has laid off at least 3,234 staff, including a 13-year-old girl recruited by the administration of former Governor Umar Ganduje towards the end of its tenure.

    About 9,332 workers employed at the end of the immediate past administration were however spared.

    Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, made this known on Friday while briefing newsmen on the report of the 22-member committee set up by the Government to ascertain the processes followed in recruiting the persons.

    Bichi said the sacked workers were ineligible to be in the Civil Service on the ground that some of them were underaged, junior and secondary school students while others were still undergoing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and some with forged certificates among others.

    He said the government has validated the employment of the 9,332 others as their salaries will be restored in a matter of time.

    The current administration upon assumption of office stopped the salary of over 10,000 workers recruited by the Ganduje’s administration and set up a committee to verify the process of their employment.

    “Based on the observations and recommendations of the Technical Committee, the Governor, owing to his concern and humane disposition, has approved as follows: Reinstatement of a total of 9,332 staff that were found eligible by the committee. Proper placement and posting/deployment of eligible staff to relevant MDAs for optimal utilisation should be undertaken.

    “The Verification Committee Report was received by the Government and its salient observations and recommendations were noted and accepted as follows:- That majority of the employments were not captured in the 2023 Approved Budget.

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    “That the employment did not take consideration of the actual manpower needs of the respective MDAs but was influenced by the desire to tie down the new Administration financially.

    “Similarly, most of those employed did not undergo processes of screening and recruitment interviews as expected by the service regulations while a significant percentage of those employed had neither applied nor indicated interest to serve which forms a major aspect of employment requirement.

    “That a number of students in their active study years were also found to be employed, including students of junior secondary schools, senior secondary schools and some in their early stages of tertiary education while a number of persons recruited were found to be undergoing their National Service Program (NYSC). Equally, a number of persons confirmed to be overaged or under-aged were found to be employed and on the State payroll.

    “A number of those employed were found to have suspicious or forged certificates, while many non-indigenes were employed in spite of a large number of qualified unemployed indigenes roaming our streets. That those employed were wrongly placed through deployment to non-career posts or the calling of their respective qualifications; and that there were gross where officers with higher qualifications attracting senior cadre were employed on the junior cadre of the service contrary to the needs of the MDAs and approval granted for such employments,” he said.

  • Payment of workers’ salary arrears: PDP slams Otti

    Payment of workers’ salary arrears: PDP slams Otti

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State chapter, has slammed Governor Alex Otti over claims that the state government has started paying judiciary workers their accrued salary arrears of eight years.

    Dr. Otti in a statement last weekend claimed that the incumbent administration had started paying eight years arrears of salary owed the judiciary workers by the previous PDP-led government.

    Apparently irked by the statement from the Labour Party (LP)-led government, the PDP through its Vice Chairman, Abia North and Acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, in a statement, accused the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Kazie Uko, of mischievously deceiving ‘Abians’ in their attempt to boost the dwindling popularity of the incumbent administration.

    Amah accused the LP of attempting to demean the former administration led by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, whom he affirmed to have paid the judicial workers their salaries before leaving office on May 29.

    “Nothing can be more demeaning, condescending and utterly embarrassing to Otti and his Labour Party in descending to such a cheap, infantile and barefaced lie to paint the past PDP administration of Dr. Ikpeazu bad by alleging that it owed judiciary workers in Abia State for the eight years it was in government.

    “The Abia PDP takes this opportunity to inform the good people of Abia State and Nigerians that judiciary workers in Abia State were paid their due salaries and allowances as at the time Dr. Ikpeazu handed over the reins of government to Dr. Otti on May 29, 2023 and so the issue of eight years’ salary arrears is nothing but the wicked construction of the Otti administration to continue to ride on the back of lies and propaganda to cover up its incompetence in governance.”

    “For the record, the judiciary workers union, JUSUN, was in discussions with the state governments as at 2015, long before Dr. Ikpeazu assumed office and there were many issues on the table, including autonomy for the judiciary and minimum wage salary increase for its members.

    “Unfortunately for the Ikpeazu administration, the same elements shouting about a non-existent eight years’ salary arrears today, were the ones that surreptitiously forced the JUSUN leadership to single out Abia State for a proposed strike meant to embarrass the young administration.

    “To stave off the strike, it signed an agreement to increase judiciary staff minimum wage from N22,000 to N40,000, which many states rejected and JUSUN insisted on being paid the six-month arrears prior to the agreement, which the previous government refused to pay because it considered it outrageous and this is what Otti and his handlers have mischievously, as always, converted to eight years. 

    “Thankfully and to the vindication of Abia PDP and Dr. Ikpeazu, as widely reported by the mainstream news media in Nigeria, the Chief Registrar of Abia State High Court, Mrs. Victoria Okey-Nwokeukwu, had refuted the claim that judges and judiciary workers in Abia State were owed salaries because, according to her, honourable judges are paid by the National Judiciary Council (NJC), while Abia State pays their allowances, including vacation allowance, which has been paid up to 2022. She described a report that judiciary workers were being owed eight years’ salary as misleading and an embarrassment to the state government.

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    “Similarly, the former Commissioner for Finance during the Okezie administration, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, weighed in on the matter and described as untrue the statement that Dr. Ikpeazu owed judiciary workers eight years salaries.

    “Writing on his personal social media handle, Oriaku said. “The headline is misleading, as it leaves the public with the impression judiciary workers are (being) owed eight straight years.

    “I should have concluded that it’s an error, but the statement was signed by the Chief Press Secretary.

    “It is unfortunate that the Otti government will build its image and public relations on lies and propaganda just to defend its incompetence and scapegoat the Abia PDP for its unending policy somersault and failures.

    “Abians now understand how Otti spent a whopping N552million under his Ministry of Information and propaganda in a quarter (July-September 2023) to disseminate cheap lies and feed ‘Abians’ and Nigerians with lies and misinformation about his performance on the pages of newspaper.”

    The Nation had reported that the state government at the weekend, through a statement issued by the governor’s CPS, said it had started paying judiciary workers eight years’ salary owed them by the previous governments.

    The CPS to Governor Otti had in the statement said the judiciary workers, through their union leader and Chairman, Oracle Chinedu Eze, expressed their gratitude to the governor and government of Abia State for fulfilling the promise of salary payments.

    “It is with a grateful heart full of joy and happiness that I, on behalf of the entire Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JJUSUN) members and executives, wish to inform and appreciate you for the first batch of the CONJUSS arrears paid yesterday (last Thursday).

    “Sir, we are most grateful and thankful. May Almighty God bless you mightily, amen and remain lifted,”  Eze was said to have written a message to Governor Otti through the Attorney-General and  Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna.

  • Wage Award: Oyo workers to get N25,000 for six months

    Wage Award: Oyo workers to get N25,000 for six months

    • Makinde awards N15,000 each to pensioners in N2.2b wage bill

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of N25, 000 for workers and N15, 000 for pensioners as wage award.

    With the move, the governor has laid to rest months of speculations and fear of breach of industrial harmony between the government and the workforce.

    The governor said the payment, which will take effect from October, will be for six months at an additional cost of N2.2billion to the wage bill of the state.

    Makinde made this known in company with labour leaders, including Comrade Kayode Martins (NLC), Comrade Bosun Olabiyi (TUC) and Comrade Olaonipekun Oluwaseun (JNC Public Sector) while addressing workers at the entrance of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan. 

    Other government functionaries including, Special Adviser (Labour Matters), Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo, the Executive Assistant to the governor, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe, among others, also accompanied the governor during the address.

    The workers had stormed the Governor’s Office as part of the decision taken during a congress yesterday to ensure the issue was resolved once and for all.

    Before announcing the figure, Governor Makinde appealed to the workers to show understanding with the state, noting that many other people in the state are also passing through the hardship occasioned by the current economic situation and other sectors that are also begging for attention through the meagre resources of the state.

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    Speaking with reporters shortly after addressing the workers, Makinde said the additional cost, although is difficult for the state; it is the responsibility of the government to take care of its workforce.

    He said: “What I told the workers earlier is that we all understand that it’s a challenging period for us as a nation and as a state you have to look at your pocket and see what we can do and what I told them was that for the wage award, we would give the pensioners N15,000 monthly for the next six months, starting from October, but they also asked that it should start from September, but I don’t know if we have enough money.

    “And for workers, we are paying N25,000 to cushion the effect of economic challenges that we are all facing. So, I believe they heard me, I said to them that, this is not a case of the labour against the government, or the government against the labour, we are all in this together and we have to pull together to be able to go through the situation that we find ourselves.”

    Reacting, Comrade Martins and Comrade Olabiyi said the announcement laid to rest the entire negotiation processes.