Oyo state Government to prioritise workers’ welfare
The National President, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Festus Osifo has called on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sincerely implement economic policies.
He made the call during the maiden southwest Trade Union Congress of Nigeria Labour Summit titled “Repositioning the Labour Movement amid Economic Decline in Nigeria” , held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
Osifo lamented poor standard of living among workers due to unchecked inflation.
Mr Osifo called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be inclusive by considering micro, macro, fiscal and monetary policy experts to cushion the effect of economic difficulty faced in the country, while ensuring there is a sincere cost of governance and resources distribution and management.
” The reason we always discuss minimum wage mostly in a country like Nigeria, you heard just last week the new inflation figure that was over 34 percent, what that means is that within that period your purchasing power has been eroded. So imagine where we were as a country in 2019 when minimum wage was discussed, how much was the bag of cement in 2019? How much was bag of rice in 2019? Similarly how much could you use to eat lunch in 2019 compared to how much you are using today. So because of the erosion in value of your currency, so there is need for you to always sit down and have this conversation”.
In his speech, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Mr Bayo Lawal said his administration will continue to prioritise workers’ good welfare, adding that the state is awaiting the outcome of tripartite committee constituted over the ongoing national minimum wage negotiation as to decide much affordable minimum wage for workers in the state.
“Today, if you are a worker in Oyo state you can throw your hands on the chest and say that by 25th of every month you will get paid, Osifo is aware of the negotiation that is ongoing, the terpatriate negotiation, labour and the government and organized private labour we engage them and we give assurance to all our workers in Oyo state that as soon as that is concluded the governor will engage our labour and Oyo state government will key into it.”
Makinde noted the government’s commitment to the payment of workers salaries, pensions, bonuses as and when due, calling for collaborative efforts with the state labour centres for more socio-economic development.
Earlier, Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Oyo State Council, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, while appreciating the magnanimity of Oyo state government and national president, Comrade Festus Osifo, maintained that the southwest labour summit will periodically be held at discussing topical issues affecting the wellbeing of workers in the South western region of Nigeria.
