*Says governors should be paid based on qualifications
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A chieftain of New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo yesterday frowned at the rejection of proposed N60,000 minimum wage by state governors
Ambassador Ajadi in a statement, described the rejection of proposed N60,000 minimum wage by state governors as insensitive and wickedness, adding that state governors in Nigeria should henceforth, be paid based on their qualifications as contained in the Civil Service Salary Scale.
The NNPP chieftain emphasized that the governors were too hasty in their rejection of N60,000 minimum wage because the labour unions have not even agreed to the proposal.
“I am totally shocked that the governors could come out to say that they cannot pay the proposed N60,000 minimum wage. That pronouncement by the governors shows that they are insensitive to the plight workers and the masses . I see it as a wicked pronouncement”, he said.
The NNPP Chieftain added, “In the first instance, they were too hasty in their reactions, as the labour unions have not even agreed to the proposal. If the governors are serving the people as they usually claim, they should cut their own salaries to N60,000 too”.
While stating that the Edo State Governor, Dr Godwin Obaseki has started paying N70,000 monthly minimum wage in his state, he wondered why other 35 governors are so self – centred and insensitive to the workers.
He stressed further, “I will also suggest that the governors should be paid according to their qualifications. They should realise that the workers attend the same market their wives and children attend.
“Since the removal of subsidy, the Federal Government has jacked up the monthly allocation to the states. What are the governors doing with the money. Part of the money should be used to pay the new minimum wage when agreed by the tripartite committee.
“President Bola Tinubu has severally warned the governors to make use of the increase in the monthly allocations to better the lots of their citizens”, adding, ” So one is shocked that the governors have the effrontery to reject a merely N60,000 proposal.”
Ambassador Ajadi maintained further, ” The question we need to even ask is, what can N60,000 buy in the present state of economy. It can’t feed a worker for two weeks, talk less of their dependants.When finally there is an agreement on the new minimum wage, I urge the governors to be sincere and ensure the prompt payment in their states”.
