Minimum wage: Makinde Pays N30,500 – Ex NLC leader

From Stella Obi, Ibadan

Special Adviser on  Labour Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bayo Titilola –Sodo has disclosed that if not for the COVID 19 that affected the economic fortunes of the state, the government of Governor Seyi Makinde would have paid more than N30, 500 as minimum wage to its workers.

 The special adviser, who made this known while interacting with newsmen at the state Secretariat of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),Ibadan, on Wednesday, informed that the 101,000 workers in the Oyo State employ pay roll now receive N30,500 as minimum wage. 

 Comrade Titilola-Sodo noted that when compared to other states in the South West, the adminstration of Governor Seyi Makinde is second to Lagos. 

He described Governor Makinde as the most workers’-friendly when compared to past administrations in the state. Continuing, he informed that over N13billion has been paid as gratuities for retired workers in the state.

He explained that Oyo State has never had it so good when the issue of minimum wage would be discussed without any rancour with government. 

“Gov Makinde pays minimum wage for the workers in the state.  I have never seen a government which arranged the issue of minimum wage without any noise. 

“He has also increased vehicle and housing loans which now stand between N750,000 and N3million  depending on the cadre of workers in the state. The number of workers in the state is 101,000 and we have 33 local government areas.  The state has over 600 secondary schools”, he said. 

The former labour leader noted that Gov Makinde has paid N13billion as gratuities for pensioners in the state and the internal generated revenue has improved with the state making overN2.5billion on the average.

Comrade Titilola-Sodo stated that some workers who were wrongly dismissed by the immediate past administration have been reinstated by the Governor Makinde’s administration. 

Commenting on the on-going issue between Governor Nasir El-Rufai and workers of Kaduna State, he advised that the governor should thread softly on the issue.