Government workers in Ondo State have demanded an immediate payment of N256, 950 as minimum wage, up from the current N73,000 being paid by the government.
The workers made their demand through a letter addressed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa through the State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate unions.
The workers said the demand became imperative following the economic situation of the country.
While stressing that the current wage was no longer realistic, the workers maintained that with the removal of fuel subsidy, inflation and skyrocketing costs of food, transportation, housing and healthcare, there was urgent need for the review.
In the letter signed by the NLC Chairman in the state, Ademola Olapade, and the state secretary, Akin Sunday, the workers urged the governor to urgently constitute a negotiation committee.
According to them, the state has the capacity to meet the demand, in view of the N104,000 minimum wage approved by the Imo State Government.
The workers, in their letter, stated: “Your Excellency, Ondo State is not just any State, it is a critical contributor to Nigeria’s oil revenue. As such, it is unacceptable that its workers and pensioners continue to live under wages that do not reflect the state’s strategic and financial status.
“Workers are the engine of governance and economic productivity and pensioners are citizens who had served with loyalty during their better years and deserve to live the remainder of their lives with dignity.
“In light of the above, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ondo State Council and its affiliate unions are formally demanding the immediate upward review of the minimum wage for Ondo State workers to the sum of N256,950.”
“This figure will form a realistic reflection of the current economic indices and the prevailing cost of survival for an average.
“Governance must not only be about policies and projects but also about people’s welfare and ability to live dignified lives. A government that pays its workers and pensioners a just wage is a government that honours the social contract it holds with its people,” they added.
