Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has stood behind workers in the country in their demand for new minimum wage.

In a statement signed by the commissioner for information and orientation, Yemi Olowolabi said Governor Akeredolu explained that the N18,000 currently being paid as minimum wage to workers in the country is unrealistic.

He spoke against the backdrop of the present economic realities in the country, noting that he had “always believed that a labourer deserves his wage.”.
” N18,000 is too poor. The wage that workers get is not something that can take them home. How much is N18, 000? It is nothing. Quite a number of us spend more than that in a month for recharge card”.

Governor Akeredolu noted that this had always been his position even before becoming a governor. He, however, called for a balancing of the equation, as the challenge of salary payment has left many administrations in the cold as they lack funds for other equally important government businesses.

“irrespective of the tiny percentage on government’s payroll, there must be bureaucracy to keep the government going. So, how do you balance it? What do you set aside for Infrastructure, Schools, Health and so many other competing interests?

“But we’ve said, look, whatever is left, we must keep adjusting because it appears you cannot explain to workers. Nobody is prepared to listen to me, that, look over 80% of our revenue goes for salaries alone.”

For the Governor, labour leaders should educate their followers on the position of things at the inception of his administration and now, especially for the fact that he has not owed them a month in the last 22 months.


Arakunrin Akeredolu drew the attention of the state workforce to the fact that no other government has done the number of kilometers of roads his administration has done in two years, apart from other feats recorded in school renovation and construction as well as accelerated rural water supply.
“i must appreciate the Federal Ministry of Water Resources which is now telling other state governments to take a cue from us. It’s a showcase to the country. “We’ve today repaired close to 700 boreholes all over in nine out of the 18 local government areas. We are going to all the local government areas soon. Despite all these efforts, we firmly believe that workers in Ondo State are entitled to their salaries. We are going to look for money. We’ll pay”.

The Governor also used the medium to speak on efforts to industrialize the state. To this end, a development partners summit, tagged “develop Ondo 2018” aimed at bringing together critical Stakeholdeers to fashion out a 25 year development plan to enhance the prosperity of the state is billed to take place in Akure, the state capital next week.

Read more: http://thenationonlineng.net/i-am-with-you-on-your-agitation-for-a-new-minimum-wage-akeredolu/

One of the governors talking sense

Ok

ok