Don’t expect N18,000 minimum wage –Ajimobi

KEMI OLAITAN (National Mirror)

Oyo State workers are spoiling for war following Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s declaration that the state economic strength could not support the payment of the 18, 000 minimum wage.
Ajimobi spoke yesterday during an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS). But the workers said that it is either the government pay the new minimum wage or contend with an indefinite strike, demanding that last month’s salary should be paid based on table prepared by Ajimobi’s predecessor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala. The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has, however, met with Labour leaders in the state, urging the workers to accept the wage being offered by the government.
Oba Adeyemi urged Labour leaders to support the government’s efforts to develop the state. Pleading with the workers not to embark on strike as threatened, Ajimobi said that he is aware that they earned the least in the South-West. He pleaded with the workers to allow him effect an increase that will make them be at par with the highest paying state in the region and shelve the N18, 000 minimum wage till the state’s income improves. Ajimobi said: “Among the 36 states of the federation, how many have started paying the money? Even the Federal Government that signed it into law is yet to implement it. We have asked the Federal Government to give us more money so that we will be able to pay the wage, but it has not done it.”