Minimum wage: Edo wage increment is a Greek gift – PDP
Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the increment of the minimum wage in the state as a Greek gift and something that was coming late.
It said Governor Adams Oshiomhole took politics too far when it announced a minimum wage increase for government workers from N18, 000 to N25, 000.
The party noted that Governor Oshiomhole’s action was hasty and a betrayal of trust as it was done at a time the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was negotiating a N56, 000 minimum wage for civil servants.
State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who stated this in a press statement issued in Benin City said the real challenge in the state civil service was about recruiting people into the service and not about deceiving the people with unrealistic wage increase.
Orbih stated that political appointees of the governor were on the increase while civil servants have continually dwindled owing to death of workers and retirement of existing workers without replacing them.
According to him, “This is a Greek gift to Edo workers considering the fact that the governor has continually neglected workers’ welfare and treated them with disdain before now. Who does not know the motive behind this fake gesture that is coming at a time every state in the federation is facing economic recession?
“As at the time of the windfall, he (Oshiomhole) didn’t pay workers for many months. Right now, local government workers are being owed over six months’ salary. Retirees’ pensions and entitlements are also not being paid under Oshiomhole’s watch.”
“We are beginning to see Oshiomhole as a slave driver going by his policy on workers’ welfare. Here is a governor who has never recruited workers into the civil service since he became governor, but is now talking about salary increase in the twilight of his administration.”
“We challenge the governor to pay outstanding salary arrears, pensions and other entitlements of workers rather than talk about a N25, 000 minimum wage. We challenge him to free the local governments from the bondage he has put them.”
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