23rd December, 2019.

Press release.


WITHDRAW THE 2020 APPROPRIATION BILL SUBMITTED TO KWHA, GROUP URGES GOVERNOR ABDULRAHMAN.


It is with utmost concern, after a careful study on the manner in which the Kwara State government is handling the issue of minimum wage of civil servants in the state, we wish to air our opinion on the subject matter. As a civil organisation group that we are, on no account shall will owe anyone apology for airing the popular opinion of the larger masses in Kwara State.

In lieu of this , below is our submissions:

1. On 18th December, we read the statement delivered by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on the 2020 Budget Proposal and the order given to the Minimum Wage Committee he inaugurated to seat with the labour unions in the state in order to fashion out modalities for the minimum wage implementation.

2. That, in our opinion, is quite deceptive as the 2020 Appropriation bill that ought to have captured and addressed the grievances of concerned civil servants has already been submitted to the Kwara State House of Assembly for quick consideration.

3. That being said, we want to mplore the Kwara State government under the leadership of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to make available to the newly constituted committee on the new minimum wage the terms of reference and particularly to pay more attention to the consequential Salary adjustments of employees from Grade Level 07 to 14 who have been receiving the amputated salary of the so called current ₦18,000 minimum wage.

4. Those categories of workers mentioned above fall within that salary bracket that have been cheated for a long time and their issues have to be taken into consideration firstly before embarking on this new adjustment for fairness and equity.

5. In addition, we also call on the state government under the leadership of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, as a matter of utmost urgency, to withdraw the recently proposed appropriation bill of 2020 presented cum submitted to the Kwara State House of Assembly in order to make budgetary provision for the new ₦30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustments as this will show high degree of seriousness and commitment on their part to be paying this wage, borrowing a leaf from President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government in that light.

6. Or better still, the 9th Kwara State House of Assembly can make virement from the current proposed headings order in the submitted 2020 appropriation Bill so as to accommodate the new wage increase. And the state government should work towards this month end deadline as ordered by the federal government which some states have even started last month.

7. We could recall that the APC campaigned vigorously on the issue of amputated salary scale which was tagged as "geri-gedi" in the local parlance in which the civil servants bought into it and used it as a bait to vote out the past government.

8. Of great concern is the pending issue that has to do with the financial burdens the state government is placing on Local government councils in the state. The financial capacity of each local government based on their FAAC allocation and IGR differs. In the light of this, we implore the state government to implement the court judgement given in 2018 in favour of the local government that the burden of Junior Secondary School Education does not fall within its purview, and that the state government should take over that responsibilities to relieve the local councils of more funds to pay the new minimum wage.

9. This, among other public issues, shall form part of the criteria, Kwarans, especially the public servants will use in assessing and rating the new administration. Kwarans are only demanding for the campaign promises, nothing new in their demands.

10. Interestingly, the 2020 budget proposal is favourable because its 53% will be used for capital project while 47% will be used for recurrent expenditure. Therefore, withdrawing Budget proposal from kwara House of Assembly n do necessary amendment will surely make masses to appreciate this government more.


11. Thank you.


Signed:

Comrade Olaitan Abdulraheem,
Assistant Publicity* *Secretary,
The People's Voice.

Unserious People

No be only withdraw, Na insert

Nonsense

back from BAN. nairalanders how una dey?