By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday inaugurated an 11man committee to review salary of workers among other demands of the labour unions following the directive of the national leaders of the labour unions after the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Committee to be headed by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Prof Olanike Adeyemo has the Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; Commissioners Akinola Ojo (Finance), Adeniyi Adebisi (Establishments and Training), Abiodun Aikomo (Attorney-General/Justice) and the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Labour Matters, Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo as members.
Other members include: Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); Oyo State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins; his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi; Chairman, Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC), Comrade Olaonipekun Oluwaseun and Director, Establishments Matters of the State Ministry of Establishments and Training, Mr O. Ojelabi as the Secretary.
The committee was named “Adhoc Inter-ministerial Committee on the harmonisation of the various demands by the Labour unions in Oyo state”.
The committee has a four weeks mandate to submit it report and recommendations to the governor.
The inauguration was in fulfilment of an earlier promise by the governor who assured the labour leaders of the move after they delivered a letter of request to him personally last week.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Governor Makinde thanked the workers for reciprocating the government kind gestures of welfare with cooperation, noting that the gesture allowed the government concentrate on delivering on its mandate to the people.
He urged the government team in the committee to be open and transparent in the deliberations while also appealing to the labour team to show understanding in their demands in a way that will not make other sectors or aspect of the state suffer neglect.
Makinde said “Let me thank the labour leaders for coming to the round table. I am optimistic that we will make home grown solutions to the demand of the labour union in the state.
“In term of welfare of workers in oyo state, I think we have been proactive as a state, the backlog of promotion and all sorts of arrears that we met we have cleared and tackle them headlong.
“In return, we have had cooperation from the workers and labour unions and that has helped us to concentrate and carry out the developmental programme we have for the people of Oyo state.
“I know you have pressures from your national leadership but our state is dare to us. The implementation and well being of the people can only be addressed at the state level.”
He noted that certain issues still needs to be addressed in the Federal structure operational in the country noting that certain subjects and issues on the Exclusive list are meant to be managed by the states.
“I don’t know of which state in Nigeria that without massive intervention in the security have peace and an atmosphere where meaningful economy activities will take place.
“That is the validation that our engagement at the state level is far more important than whatever is happening at the federal.
“So with sincerity of purpose and having the interest of our people at heart, we both should quickly come together and address the issues that are been faced by our people due to economy crisis that the country in.
“Please on the part of the labour don’t say we have this let us eat everything in one go, no we have other things to do if we continue to lag behind with infrastructure, then it will become more and more difficult to expand our economy to have IGR and to win ourselves away from over-reliance from federal allocation.
“Please I want to solicit for your understanding, carry the members along and on behalf of the government we must be completely open because when we find a solution that both sides are comfortable with that is fair to everybody then it is something that will endure and be sustain.
“Please SSG, Head of Service be completely open is our state.”
Responding to questions after the inauguration, Oyo State NLC Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins who was flanked by other leaders expressed optimism that the Committee will work in the best interest of the workers and citizens of the state.
He said “We will like to have the report in good time.You can see when the governor suggested six weeks for the committee to report, you saw that I had to say that was too long a time. The survey is already on ground. We will put in our best to make sure we arrive at a conclusion in a very short term.
“And we will make sure that we consider the neighbouring states so that we don’t end up shooting ourselves in the foot. We may have to endure some patience.
“The major part of our demands is the wage award to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people, the workers and the masses.
“Workers today find it very difficult to report to their duty post, so something has to be done in good time. People are hungry and we have to do something as quickly as possible.
“Says the workers are looking far beyond N35,000 minimum wage saying “We are the Pacesetter state, hopefully we can do more. And when we get there we will talk about it. We are very optimistic that something positive will come out of this committee.”
