Obaseki Increases Minimum Wage for Edo Workers to N70,000

•Unveils new labour secretariat, names edifice after Adams Oshiomhole

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has increased the minimum wage for Edo workers from N40,000 to N70,000 effective May 1, 2024.

Obaseki disclosed this while delivering his speech at the inauguration of the Edo State Labour House Complex, a new building to serve as the Secretariat of the Labour Unions in the State.

The building located at Temboga, Ikpoba Hill in Benin City was also named after a former Governor of the State and former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole.

Guests at the occasion included the Edo State Deputy Governor, Godwins Omobayo; Speaker Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Blessing Agbebaku; Secretary to State Government (SSG) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy Governorship Candidate, Osarodion Ogie.

Also in attendance were the 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 were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; Chairman, NLC in Edo State, Odion Olaye as well as 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, there is 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.

“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 May 1, 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, he said: “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,” he added.

According to him, the building was conceived by Oshiomhole in office while his contribution was 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 wellbeing 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 emphasise training and retraining as an integral part of our workforce as we believe that there is a connection between high performance and training,” he stressed.

In his speech, the Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, commended the governor’s commitment to the welfare of Edo workers.

He noted that some of his achievements to include fully digitalising the state civil service, prompt payment of salaries, highest minimum wage in Nigeria and payment of 13th month salary.

He also listed life insurance for Edo workers, health insurance for workers, automatic employment for first-class citizens of Edo State as well regular promotion for Edo workers, among others.

On his part, the President of the TUC, Festus Osifo said the building was the best labour edifice, adding that “the achievements of the governor are not contestable.”

He added: “I thank you for digitising the labour workforce in Edo State. I am impressed by your developmental achievements which have helped to reduce the plight of workers in Edo State.”

In his welcome address, the Chairman of NLC, Edo State,  Olaye thanked the governor for his magnanimity, friendliness and concern towards Edo workers.

“I thank the governor for this edifice for the organised labour as workers in Edo state have long been waiting for a day like this as the house has been desired for over 25 years. This building is second to none in Nigeria,” he stressed.