Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, took the shine off the commissioning of the Edo State Labour House named after him by being absent at its official commissioning today by the state government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The senator, who is the immediate past governor of the state, was conspicuously absent from the event. Also not present at the occasion was the Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha.
While commissioning the edifice, Governor, Godwin Obaseki, disclosed that his administration has increased the minimum wage for Edo workers from N40,000 to N70,000 effective from May 1, 2024. The building, which will serve as the Secretariat of the labour unions in the state, is located at Temboga, Ikpoba Hill in Benin City.
Guests at the occasion include Edo State Deputy Governor Engr. Marvellous Godwins Omobayo; Speaker Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; Secretary to State Government (SSG) and PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, Osarodion Ogie Esq.; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Osaigbovo Iyoha; Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Anthony Okungbowa, and Edo PDP Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, among others.
Others are President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo; Chairman, NLC in Edo State, Comrade Odion Olaye; serving Commissioners, among others.
The governor said, “As a result of the cordial relationship between the Edo State Government and labour unions in the State, we have enjoyed peace and industrial harmony in Edo State. Despite our efforts to make life better for Edo State workers, there are forces beyond our control, as we don’t control the national economy as our workers are still languishing in pain and penury.
“I give you insurance, improved conditions of service, pay you and promote you on time but the truth is that because of the economic situation in Nigeria today, our workers continue to be challenged; devaluation, high food prices and inflation have made nonsense of the N40, 000 we are paying you.
“As a government, we feel your pains and know your take-home pay can barely take you home. We will continue to try. I am one of those governors who believe that we can’t run away from the fact that we must adjust the minimum wage in Nigeria. It would have been nice for there to be a central and cohesive and common approach. We would have expected that by now there should have been a direction as to what minimum wage will be for workers in Nigeria.”
He added, “We don’t know when that will happen. If it happens, fine and if not, as a State we would need to do what we need to do. For us in Edo State, we have decided to move the minimum wage from N40,000 to N70,000 effective from 1st of May 2024. I think like a capitalist and not a comrade. In my May Day speech, I will give more details on our new minimum wage. If the Federal Government imposes something higher, we would make the necessary adjustments.”
Commending the labour unions for their sustained partnership with the State Government leading to the industrial harmony enjoyed in the State, “You have joined us to pursue very deep institutional reforms in the State as our achievements have been made possible because of the cordial relationship we enjoy.
“Labour-Government relationship should not be only at policy contestation level but should be an alignment towards a common goal for workers and that is what we have found in Edo. Government and labour have found a common ground to improve the lives of the workers in Edo State.”
Obaseki further stated, “This building was conceived by my predecessor in office and my contribution is to make it happen. We have continued to invest in our workers in Edo State and our achievement in Edo State is to contribute to the welfare and well-being of Edo State workers. We not only developed the work environment but placed emphasis on building the capacity of Edo State workers. We continue to emphasize training and restraining as an integral part of our workforce as we believe that there is a connection between high performance and training.”
Discussion about this post