By Adeyinka Adeniran
Leadership of labour unions in Oyo state have commended Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision to extend the payment of wage award for workers and pensioners in the state by another six month.
However, the Unions said, in the face of current economic realities, wage award has outlived its usefulness, saying minimum wage negotiation is the way forwards.
The leaders including, Comrade Kayode Martins (Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress), Comrade Bosun Olabiyi (Chairman, Trade Union Congress) and Comrade Seun Olaosebikan (Chairman, Joint Negotiations Council) spoke separately while reaction on Tuesday.
Corenews reports that Governor Makinde had last week announced the extension of the payment of the wage award during the commissioning of a road project.
The government had in October approved the payment of N25,000 and N15,000 to workers and pensioners respectively in the state. The initial six month is to lapse in April.
The labour leaders said the move although showed the forward thinking nature of the governor amd his concern for the workers but added that if they had been consulted before the announcement, they would have advised on a better way of resolving it.
They also said, they will abide by the whatever decision and agreement that is reached at the national level between the Federal Government and the National labour leaders in the minimum wage.
Speaking, the Oyo NLC Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins said “We want to appreciate the gesture of our amiable governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, it shows that he has us in mind and he is been proactive but the situation on ground has really gone beyond that.
“We appreciate his gesture notwithstanding, the situation in the country is tensed and the N25,000 wage award has really cushioned the whole thing to certain level, but in the current situation, things have really gone out of hands and whatever it takes, we will be ready to address the issue.
“Talking about the signal from the national on proposed protest, since it is a national issue, Oyo State is not left out, we will abide by whatever directive that comes as per the protest in hardship in the country.”
Asked if the leaders were consulted by Governor Makinde before announcing the wage award extension, the NLC Chairman said “ordinarily if we had been beckoned on, maybe we would have advised a better approach to have it done, but we were not aware, we just heard of it in the news.
“Hopefully before the week runs out, the process of negotiation on the new minimum wage will commence from the national headquarters and you know that their conclusion and agreement is what we will build on at the state level. But, the signal is that the committee has started sitting and we are waiting for their resolves.
“It is a general issue in the country. Everybody can feel it. We are planning to have a two day protest across the country to send the signal to those in authority that things are unconducive for the general masses, so people should come out to join. We want people to come out. It is going to be a peaceful protest but if the directive comes that we should sit at home, many people are already sitting at home, many people cannot afford transportation to office anymore.
“So, the government has to seize the opportunity to address the issues at once. It has lingered enough. It is a nationwide protest.”
Also speaking, Oyo TUC Chairman, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi said people are more interested in actions and activities that will have direct impact on their lives rather than needless meetings.
Olabiyi said “The only thing I will like to add is that things are very obvious now, what people wants to see is activities not meetings here and there any longer.
“If you see a viral video of the TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, it is not only in Oyo state that people will come to work on Monday and they will not leave until Friday, looking for where to sleep in the office.
“So, things have gone really bad. There are so many things to say but I believe there will be a meeting, especially in Oyo state. Oyo state is our own, just as the governor always say, it is our own, it belongs to all of us. But, the issue on ground now, they are national issues which everybody must be on the same page.
“I believe the same thing that is affecting us is also affecting everyone else. So, there are issues on ground which we must look into. Just like the NLC Chairman said, we appreciate the extension of the wage award but the issue on ground now is a little bigger than the extension of wage award. Things have really gone bad. See the prices of cement, see prices of food stuff.
“Wage award has gone. It has totally gone. It has outlived its usefulness. We need to put effort into the minimum wage, which should be a living wage, not just what someone will say, let me give people something so that they can go and keep quite. So, whatsoever that is agreed upon from our national leadership, is what we are going to do in Oyo state. People are suffering and it doesn’t need anybody to announce it any further. Government must do what will make life meaningful for the citizens.”
