Striking Osun workers reject N19,001 minimum wage

WALE FOLARIN (National Mirror)

Aregbesola

Osun State striking workers today rejected the N19, 001 minimum wage approved for them by the government, claiming that the structure was not implemented across board.

In an on line statement issued by the Director of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the state government said that the N19, 001 minimum wage would be paid to workers on Grade Levels 01 to 07 for now. Okanlawon, who said that the government has approved additional N7, 429, 50 for workers from Grade Levels 8 to 10; N6, 611 for workers on Grade Levels 12 to 14 and N5, 096.40 for workers on Grade Levels 15 to 17, added that the agreement was reached at the negotiation table yesterday.

According to Okanlawon, the N19, 001 minimum wage exceeds the N18, 000 minimum wage prescribed by the Federal Government, adding that the state was poised to ensure that its workers emerge the best paid across the country. But Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Mr. Saka Adesiyan, said labour leaders were not part of the agreement.

Adesiyan told National Mirror that NLC has nothing to do with the N19, 001minimum wage announced by the state government. He said: “We were not part of that agreement and we, as labour leaders, have nothing to do with it. The strike continues as long as the state government fails to heed our demand for the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage across board.”