Oyo Can’t Pay N30, 000 Minimum Wage, Says Makinde….Donates Salaries To Teachers

In fulfilment of parts of his campaign promises, Oyo State
Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday said he will donate his entire
salary as governor to Teachers’ Pension Fund.

He also proposed staggered salary increment instead of the
outright payment of the N30, 000 approved national minimum wage for
workers in the state.

The governor also abolished the N3, 000 annual school fees paid
in state-owned secondary schools across the state.

Makinde made the disclosures while giving his inaugural address
at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan as 8th civilian
governor.

The 40,000 capacity stadium was overflowed with people within,
outside and around the event venue, leading to heavy traffic
congestion around Liberty Road, Ring Road and the adjourning
streets.

Dignitaries from different parts of the states and even the
Southwest states attended the event.

Among them were: Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Saliu Adetunji;
Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Soun of Ogbmosho Oba Jimoh
Oyewunmi; Representatives of Oba of Benin; former governors Adebayo
Alao-Akala and Dr Omololu Olunloyo.

They were also: Chief Bode George, former Ekiti State Governor
Ayodele Fayose, Chief Olu Falae and his wife.

But former Governor Rashidi Ladoja was conspicuously absent at
the event.

Noting that his plans is to make the state the first state to
pay above the national minimum wage, as the machinery has been put
in motion, Makinde however stressed such a development would need
time to materialise in the face of economic resources of the
state.

Speaking on the new minimum wage, the new governor said he will
have what he described as a ‘sincere conversation’ and arrive at
the best possible decision which will put the overall interest of
the people first.

He assured the government will set up a committee to look into
all cases of those who believed they have been wrongly dismissed
from civil service, including those whose cases have been decided
in their favour in court who have not been reinstated.

He promised to reduce government overheads, increase the
efficiency in tax collection, simplify the tax payment system and
cut down on debt accumulation without concrete repayments
plans.

He said “Recently, the Federal Government announced a new salary
scheme in which the lowest cadre of civil servants are expected to
earn at least N30,000.

“I know how access to this type of money will improve the lives
of many of the families that I have had direct contact with.

“However, with the way the Oyo state account currently stands, I
will be deceiving you if I said we are capable of taking on this
burden.

“I believe in true federalism. I believe the states should
decide the minimum wage of their workforce based on individual
realities.

“All states are not created equal, so it is against the
principle of fairness to apply a blanket rule to govern them
all.

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