Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated an 11-man committee to review the salary of workers, among other demands of labour unions in the state, following the directive of the national leaders of the labour unions after the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
The committee, named “Adhoc Inter-ministerial Committee on the harmonisation of the various demands by the Labour unions in Oyo State”, has a four-week mandate to submit its report and recommendations to the governor.
The inauguration was in fulfilment of a promise earlier made to the labour leaders by the governor after they delivered a letter of request to him personally last week.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Governor Makinde thanked the workers for reciprocating the government’s kind gestures of welfare with cooperation, noting that the gesture had allowed the government to concentrate on delivering on its mandate to the people.
He urged the government team in the committee to be open and transparent in the deliberations and also appealed to the labour team to show understanding of their demands in a way that would not make other sectors or aspects of the state suffer neglect, asserting that finding solutions that both sides are comfortable with is what would endure and be sustainable.
Makinde said: “I am optimistic that we will make homegrown solutions to the demand of the labour union in the state. I know you have pressures from your national leadership but our state is dear to us. The implementation and well-being of the people can only be addressed at the state level.”
“So with sincerity of purpose and having the interest of our people at heart, we both should quickly come together and address the issues that are been faced by our people due to the economic crisis that the country is in.
Responding to questions after the inauguration, the Oyo State NLC Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins, who was flanked by other union leaders, expressed optimism that the committee would work in the best interest of the workers and citizens of the state and that something positive would come out of the committee.
Martins said: “We would like to have the report in good time. You can see when the governor suggested six weeks for the committee to report; you saw that I had to say that was too long a time. The survey is already on the ground. We will do our best to make sure we arrive at a conclusion in the very short term.
“And we will make sure that we consider the neighbouring states so that we don’t end up shooting ourselves in the foot. We may have to endure some patience. The major part of our demands is the wage award to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people, the workers, and the masses,” the NLC Chairman revealed.
He lamented that workers find it difficult to report to their duty posts and many people are hungry due to the fuel subsidy removal, noting that something must be done about the situation as quickly as possible.
Concerning the issue of the N35,000 minimum wage, Martins disclosed that the workers were looking beyond that amount and expressed the hope that the state would be able to pay more, being the Pacesetter State, saying the issue would be discussed at the appropriate time.
The committee, to be headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, has the Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; commissioners Akinola Ojo (Finance); Adeniyi Adebisi (Establishments and Training); Abiodun Aikomo (Attorney-General/Justice); and the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Labour Matters, Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo as members.
Other members include the Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya(rtd); Oyo State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins; the Trade Union Congress Chairman, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi; Chairman, Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC), Comrade Olaonipekun Oluwaseun; and Director, Establishments Matters of the State Ministry of Establishments and Training, Mr O. Ojelabi, as the Secretary.
Dominica Nwabufo
