The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Delegated Legislation, Hon Femi Bamisile, has commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for granting approval for the immediate implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for all categories of workers in the state.
Bamisile, who represents Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, posited that Governor Oyebanji deserved commendation for directing immediate take off of the new wage, when some governors had approved, but still dilly-dallying on implementation.
Governor Oyebanji after reaching agreement with labour leaders, on Tuesday, announced immediate take off of the new minimum wage of N70,000 for Ekiti workers commencing from the month of November, 2024.
In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, on Thursday, Bamisile lauded Governor Oyebanji for acceding to the workers’ request, and for being conscious that Ekiti is predominantly a monolithic civil service state.
The former Speaker added that the new minimum wage when takes effect will help in mitigating the sufferings of Ekiti masses and rescue them from the hardship being experienced due to the sudden removal of fuel subsidy.
He said the gesture demonstrated by the governor further amplified the All Progressives Congress’ ardent and unflagging believe in populist and welfarist governance, solidly anchored on the masses.
“Let me congratulate Ekiti workers on this feat that will go a long way in promoting their welfare. However, Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated uncommon fidelity in the promotion of the welfare of workers and pensioners since assumption of office.
“The governor has exhibited this through via prompt payment of salaries, pension and raising of the bar of payment of the highly delayed gratuities of retirees. He had also fasttracked actions on the payment of deductions and increase cash inflows to cooperatives to be able to grant loans to workers.
“Within two years, Governor Oyebanji elevated the payment of gratuities that was paid up to 2012 before he took off to March 2015, with over N15 billion already paid to varying categories of retirees.
“The last one, which was the approval of new minimum wage, will help in cementing the cord of unity and relationships between the government and workers for robust productivity and development of the state in all spheres of the economy”, he said.
Bamisile urged the workers to reciprocate the gesture by being honest, loyal, dedicated and productive in their services to Ekiti to complement the efforts being intensified by the government to reset the state on a faster lane of economic prosperity.
