Minimum Wage: Ekiti Labour Rejects Fayemi’s Proposed Salary Adjustment

The organised labour unions in Ekiti State have threatened to
reject the stance of Governor Kayode Fayemi on the N30,000 minimum
wage for workers if negated the template set by the National
leaderships of the labour centres.

The Labour leaders insisted that whatever Fayemi will implement
must be in consonance with the National template increment of 66.6
per cent for Grade Levels 01-06, 29 per cent for GL 07-14 and 24
percent for 15-17.

The labour position was contained in a statement jointly signed
by the secretaries of Trade Union Congress, Com. Mohammed Bashman,
Nigeria Labour Congress, Com. Akinyemi Taiwo and Public Service
Joint Negotiating Council, Com. Gbenga Olowoyo.

The labour leaders, however, applauded Fayemi for his readiness
to implement the proposal but berated the unilateral decision taken
on the matter, contending that labour could have been carried along
as earlier agreed on September 30 at a meeting with the Head of
Service, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi.

Fayemi, had on Friday pronounced the readiness of his
administration to effect the new minimum wage commencing from
October during the 2019 edition of the Teachers’ Day
Celebration.

They stated that “In line with the national directive of the
leadership of the organised labour, anything short of the above
percentage , the organised labour won’t do anything contrary to the
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 set for the national strike in Nigeria
over the insincerity of government to pay the new minimum wage to
workers on GL 01-17.

“The organised labour is constrained to refer to a meeting of
September 30 at the office of the Head of Service, the resolution
then was that the state government must ensure due process with the
setting up of negotiating team and in fulfilment of outstanding
salaries and other emoluments before commencing N30,000 minimum
wage, although, the pronouncement made on October 5 had Contravened
this resolution”.

The labour also expressed hope that Governor Fayemi will fulfil
his promise to defray the N57 billion being outstanding workers’
salaries, allowances and pension before clocking one year in office
on October 16.

“The liquidation of these outstanding payments are
sacrosanct.

“They include three months payment to public servants, September
2017 and May 2018 deductions, six months arrears of salaries to
local government workers, financial backing for 2015, 2016, 2017,
2018 and 2019 workers’ promotions and leave bonuses for 2016, 2017,
2018 and 2019 to civil servants.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the non-payment of these
aforementioned outstanding before the promised date May threaten
the industrial peace in our dear state”, they said.