PDP Councillorship Candidates Forum Faults Implementation of N70,000 New Minimum Wage for Workers in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Councillorship candidates of the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 local government election in Kwara state Thursday expressed deep concern over the purported implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,00 for all categories of workers in the state.

The group under the aegis of Forum of 2024 PDP Councillorship Candidates however said that, the government had failed to take into consideration the current economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin on Thurday on the sideline of the alleged theft of their mandates during the last local government poll, the state coordinator of the group, Hon. Mufutau Aromaradu, called on the state government to take immediate action to address the matter.

According to him, “The wage award has not taken into account the current economic realities, including the high cost of living and the erosion of purchasing power.

“As a result, workers in Kwara state are still struggling to make ends meet, despite the supposed increase in their salaries”.

The group, which also said that the state government should have adopted consequential adjustments in implementing the new minimum wage, added that the government chose wage award instead, “where ‘flat rate’ was added to all workers’ salaries irrespective of their levels”.

Aromaradu said, “For instance, while Katsina state, which also pays the N70,000 minimum wage, has
implemented a new salary structure that reflects consequential adjustments, Kwara State has opted for a wage award that adds a fixed amount to workers’ salaries, regardless of their grade level.

“This approach has resulted in a glaring disparity between the two states.

“In Katsina state, a level 10 worker earns more than level 13 worker in Kwara state, despite being three grade levels higher.

“This is a clear indication that the wage award implemented
in Kwara state is not only inadequate, but also unfair.

“Furthermore, the wage award has failed to address the issue of salary relativity, which has resulted in a situation where some workers are earning almost the same as or more than their superiors. This has created a sense of injustice and demotivation among workers”.

The group demanded that the state government should take immediate action to address the identified
disparities, while calling for a comprehensive review of the salary structure to ensure that
consequential adjustments are made to reflect the true value of workers’ labour.

“We also demand that the government addresses the issue of salary relativity and ensures
that workers are paid according to their grade levels and qualifications.

“Furthermore, we call for a review of the wage award to take into account the current economic realities and ensure that workers are paid a living wage, he added.

The PDP councillorship candidates, who said that they are committed to position the opposition party ahead of 2027 general elections, maintained that the PDP won the council poll against the results declared by the state Independent Electoral Commission.

“The forum of 2024 PDP Councillorship Candidates has been committed to playing key roles in positioning our dear party ahead of the 2027 general elections in order to come out victorious just as we had in the last local government elections”.

The coordinator noted that, “We will continue to be loyal and committed to the PDP so as to win the next elections in the state”.

He however described the last local government councils poll in the state as a daylight robbery, noting that it is a blatant disregard for democractic principles and the outright theft of our mandates in the state”.