Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has promised to implement the N30,000 minimum wage as soon as it is passed into law.
Recently, the governor signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation with labour leaders in the state.
Accordingly, the governor approved the establishment of a committee on the implementation of wage
At the inauguration of the 10-member committee on Wednesday in Ilorin, the state capital, the State Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole charged the committee to work out modalities for the implementation of increased minimum wage in the state.
She said that “the committee is expected to among other things look at various funding windows, smooth implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage and work out an actionable plan for the implementation of the minimum wage in the state once passed into law.”
Mrs. Oluwole, who reiterated the determination of the state government to implement the new Minimum Wage, renewed the government’s commitment to ensuring improved welfare of the state workforce.
The committee has the State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale as Chairman while the Director of Establishment and Pension in the Office of Head of Service will serve as the Secretary.
Other members of the committee are the Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training, Permanent Secretary, Service and Welfare, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Chairman, Joint Negotiation Council.
But group known as Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA) described the governor’s decision as a campaign gimmick.
In a statement, Secretary General of the group, Hassan Omoiya, said that neither Ahmed nor his political family has a history of honouring agreements.
The statement reads: “The MOU is a familiar campaign gimmick from a governor who couldn’t faithfully implement the 18,000 National Minimum Wage. It is one thing to make a promise. It is another thing for the fellow making the promise to be believable,” Omoiya said.
“Of course, the governor doesn’t have any record of fulfilling any pact with not just the labor but the entire people of Kwara. If you can’t pay 18,000 minimum wage, how do you plan to pay 30,000? The governor should first implement the 18,000 minimum wage, including the arrears of same since 2011, and then the suffering workers may consider his latest pledge. What is the worth of an MOU that is certain to be ignored?! If you can’t pay minimum wage with a N190bn budget, how would you pay it through a N150bn budget? It is a case of wanting to fool the people twice. Our people are no fools!
“As we speak, several categories of workers in Kwara — serving and retired — are being owed up to 11 months in salaries, pensions and gratuities arrears. These include but are not limited to workers across local government, water corporation, sports council, Harmony Transport Service and Kwara Football Academy. What about the dubious deduction of workers’ pay against which no one dares to talk?
“The truth is that the people of Kwara are completely fed up with the deceitful political tendency that Governor Ahmed represents and, given its interesting history of never honouring its words and humiliating our people, no amount of latter-day promise can avert the imminent punishment awaiting them at the polls.”
