By Henry Odeh
The executive governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde has declared that no civil servant will earn anything below the national minimum wage and has assured workers in the state that a harmonization committee has been set up involving state government and representatives of labour leaders to harmonize government and labour positions in order to arrive at a common ground.
Governor Makinde made this known on Wednesday during an annual inter-religious thanksgiving at the office of the governor, Oyo state secretariat, Ibadan.
The governor stated that his administration is committed and unwavering in its commitment to the welfare of workers in the state adding that he will be fully committed to the resolution of the harmonization committee that is already working together on the national minimum wage.
He said “the committee has been set up and they are working, they are moving towards alignment but I promise you something that this administration and workers in Oyo state not just their leadership, we are on the same page with this ongoing negotiation.
“And when this is concluded I give you the assurance that we shall stand side by side to announce to the whole world what we have agreed on and whatever we are going to agree on is going to be in the interest of workers and our state.
“So, take this home, our collective decision first, maybe agreeable to everybody, two, will be affordable, and three, it will be sustainable.
“Before this administration came in May 29 they were paying percentages as subventions to higher institutions, just a month before the previous administration left they moved it to hundred percent, and we have been paying it since we came in.
“And no worker in Oyo state will earn below the national minimum wage.”
