THE Ekiti State government has announced that it will
not slash the minimum wage it is currently paying its
workforce despite the financial challenges.
Governor Ayo Fayose, who stated this, said to ensure
the smooth payment of the salaries, the state
government might de-centralise the state’s payment
system.
Governor Fayose, who disclosed this at the weekend
while speaking during a sensitisation tour of
Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ekiti South-West local
government areas, said the current minimum wage
of N18,000 was “grossly inadequate,” adding that
“any slash would not augur well for the workers and
their dependants.”
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted the governor to
have said “the state government would work out
ways that the government and the labour unions
would agree on the mode of payment.”
He said the governor, who first visited Igede-Ekiti,
headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun council area, said
there was “no point hiding the financial situation of
the state government from the workers.”
He said: “I am enjoying your grace for returning me
to office and I am not going to take the grace for
granted. A governor who hides the true position of
things from his people is only deceiving himself. The
power of the people is greater than that of the leader.
“I won’t reduce workers’ salaries. The N18,000
minimum wage is even not enough. I will never hold
your money one day extra. The shortfall in the
bailout will be redressed,” he said.
The governor also added that a unit would be set up
in the Governor’s Office to look into complaints about
workers’ welfare.
