Ogun State workers are to smile soon as Gov. Dapo Abiodun announced that his administration is working towards implementing the new national minimum wage.
The governor, who disclosed this at a meeting with the leadership of organized labour held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, noted that workers have been instrumental in the rapid economic growth the state is witnessing.
He promised the union leaders that Ogun State would not take second place in implementing the new minimum wage.
He said: “On the new minimum wage, all hands are on deck working assiduously, and I am sure that, as always, we will not be number two in the implementation of the minimum wage.
“I have told my team that we should roll up our sleeves; we should work as hard as we can without putting undue pressure on our people.
“We should be creative, more efficient, block loopholes, and increase our revenue so that we can comfortably pay the new minimum wage, and by God’s grace, we will not be second in terms of implementation.”
He pleaded for continued partnership from organized labour, emphasizing that their cooperation has led to economic prosperity, as the state budget has increased from less than N400 billion at the inception of the administration to the current N703 billion, with performance at 80 percent. He added that the state is looking at a trillion Naira budget for next year’s appropriation.
Abiodun said he initiated the meeting as part of efforts to engage stakeholders in the movement of people to find solutions to the current situation caused by the fuel subsidy removal.
Abiodun, who took time to explain the intricacies of the oil sector, acknowledged that the current realities are the fallout of the federal government’s decision, led by President Bola Tinubu, to reposition the nation’s economy for sustainability, adding that as a responsible government, his administration has put several measures in place to cushion the effects on the people.
“We have commenced the energy transition program by converting our mass transit buses to CNG and launching electric motorcycles and tricycles.
“Yesterday (Monday), we held a meeting with the transport unions. They demanded that we ramp up the availability of these alternative means of fuelling transportation in the state and widen the scope because of the success they have recorded.
“The federal government is making rice available for us to sell at very subsidized prices to everybody. The federal government is also providing us with 500 CNG kits that we will use to convert 509 commercial vehicles so that we can lower the cost of transportation,” Abiodun added.
The federal government, the governor continued, would send 20 CNG buses in the first instance to the state, while the state government would provide 100 CNG buses to transport unions in the state, saying that transportation costs are expected to be reduced by 50-80 percent as more people embrace electric motorcycles and CNG vehicles.
The governor attributed the current fuel scarcity to operational and financial issues, while the hike in prices is due to subsidy removal and the floating of the naira.
“With all that has been put in place, with all hands on deck and the commitment to energy transition, by the time we have transitioned from over-reliance on petrol to CNG to electric vehicles and other forms of energy, you will begin to see that the cost of transportation, which is where the problem really lies, will begin to drop.
“Therefore, our commitment to the energy transition is total. It is the only path to sustainability. It has been done in other countries before,” he said.
He revealed that the establishment of a Presidential CNG Initiative, which includes individuals from various sectors, and the designation of the state as the focal point for vehicle transition in the southwest are a result of its prior experience with the project.
Abiodun announced the establishment of farmers’ markets in three zones throughout the state to facilitate the affordable purchase of food items.
Additionally, he announced the establishment of a task force, which includes transport union executives and law enforcement agencies, to monitor any arbitrary increases in transport fares, with the involvement of labor.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hameed Benco, while appreciating the governor for always making organized labour part of his decision-making process, stressed the need to enforce price regulation as market men and women have taken advantage of the current economic situation to exploit the people.
He also called for a special arrangement to transport workers and students from primary and secondary schools to their offices and schools, respectively, saying it would help mitigate the hardship.
On his part, the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, advocated for workers to work from their homes until the situation improves, while the Joint Negotiation Committee Chairman, Comrade Isa Olude, called for measures that would provide relief to workers and pensioners.
The Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, appreciated the governor for allaying workers’ fears, noting that he has demonstrated capacity and strong will in dealing with issues concerning workers’ welfare and well-being.
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