PRESS STATEMENT
“The so called early payment of May salary on the 31st May is a gimmick to cajole workers to accept staggered salary increment”
“The state leadership of labour must commence immediate mobilization for a mass meeting of workers in preparation for a concerted struggle to actualize the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage”
The Socialist Party on Nigeria, SPN, Oyo State Chapter decries the decision by newly inaugurated Seyi Makinde/PDP-led government to substitute the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage recently signed into law by both the presidency and national assemblies with what was called a “staggered salary increment” for mass of workers in the state. At the same time, SPN calls on mass of workers in the state to reject this kind of onslaught and insist on a full implementation of the new minimum wage of N30, 000. Hence, prevail on the state leadership of labour to immediately commence a mass mobilization of workers in the state for a mass meeting in preparation for a concerted struggle to force the full implementation of the new minimum wage of N30, 000.
SPN recalls that Engineer Seyi makinde in his inaugural speech during his swearing- in ceremony as the new Governor of Oyo State stated while commenting on the new minimum wage of N30, 000 that “with the way the Oyo State account currently stands, I will be deceiving you if I said we are capable of taking on this burden”
He went further to say “I believe the state should decide the minimum wage of their workforce based on individual realities. All states are not created equal, so it is against the principle of fairness to apply a blanket rule to govern them all. That being said, our plan is to make Oyo the first state to pay above the national minimum wage. We know is possible. We already set our plan in motion to make this possible. But this require time. We propose staggered increment”
The argument that Oyo State lacks the resources to commence the immediate implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage is not true and deceitful. SPN believes that Oyo State with its acclaimed “lean resources” can still support the implementation of the new minimum wage of N30, 000 without compromising infrastructural development across the state. This will be possible with immediate effect, if all the political office holders including the Governors, Commissioners, and state house of assembly members are placed on the same salary and allowance structure earned by skilled civil servants and the fraudulent security votes as well as wastages are scrapped. The contract system through which public funds are looted by politicians and billionaires friends who masquerade as contractors is abolished and replaced with public work programme under a democratic control and management of the working people, at the same time, the actual fund that comes to the coffer of the Oyo State including the IGR is regularly made open to the public and subjected to a democratic control and management of the working people.
It is in the light of this that SPN calls on mass of workers in the state to reject and resist every attempts that will be employed by the Seyi Makinde/PDP-led government to force down their throat a “staggered salary increment” and demand for a full compliance with the implementation of the new minimum wage of N30, 000. As a matter of fact, the widely reported news that the Governor Seyi makinde had paid the salary of workers in the state for the month of May on the 31st of May which is much earlier than what is used to be under the immediate past regime of the most discredited APC/Ajimobi-led government is a gimmick to cajoled the mass of civil servants in the state to accept the proposed “staggered salary increment”. Even though, the early payment of the May salary is welcomed, however it’s not to be celebrated given the fact it is a public funds and it’s has always been available for the payment salary and pension therefore, it cannot be used to justify the attempt to impose a “staggered salary increment” in violation of the N30, 000 Minimum Wage Act.
Again, SPN believes that the new Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP lacks the moral credibility to say that it is “against the principle of fairness” for federal government to decide minimum wage. This is because the Governor Seyi Makinde agrees to accept the same salary and allowances and other many outrageous privileges like security votes received by other state governors including those of states that are richer than Oyo State which are usually determine by the Federal Government agency known as Revenue, Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC irrespective of the so called state “individual realities”.
Again, the Engr Seyi Makinde’s argument that state should decide its own minimum wage gives a false impression that state Governors were not part of the process that led to the agreement on the N30, 000 as the figure for the new minimum wage therefore, raises a huge suspicion over the depth of the Governor’s understanding over the process that often lead to the determination of the new minimum wage act. This is because it is expected that the new Governor should know that state Governors were adequately represented in the tripartite committee set up by the federal government which after so many struggles of the Nigeria workers eventually forced to agree to a new minimum wage of N30, 000. It should also be noted that the N30,000 Minimum Wage is a national minimum wage for Nigerian workers irrespective of where they live and work and governors, local government and the federal government have the liberty to pay more but not less.
SPN is of the opinion that the new Governor’s back and forth attitude towards the implementation of the new minimum wage of N30, 000 is worrisome and suggestive that his government is going to be sooner or later be insensitive and irresponsive to the general welfare, plight and needs of the workers, students and the masses in general. This is an inevitable possibility especially when the Governor has revealed in his inaugural speech that “Pro-Private investment” will be the thrust of his PDP-led government. This is why SPN in its conclusion calls on mass of workers and other poor masses in the state to be ready and prepared for a concerted struggle which is the only way an improvement in both their living and working condition under the Seyi Makinde/PDP-led government can be guaranteed.
Signed
Comrade Ayodeji Adigun
SPN State Secretary
08034817064
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