Oshiomhole took politics too far by increasing minimum wage - PDP
Tue May 03, 2016 10:38:am Politics
5.2K By sosa hills
The Edo State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has said the increment of the workers' minimum wage from N18,000 to N25,000 by Governor Adams Oshiomhole to mark the 2016 May Day celebration, was a Greek gift and is ill timed.
In a statement issued in Benin City by the PDP state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, the party described the governor's actions as a betrayal of trust and hasty when negotiations were still ongoing by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the N56,000 minimum wages for civil servants.
Orbih berated the governor for ignoring the core challenge of the state civil service which is recruiting people into the service rather than increasing the wage of a few workers.
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 wind fall, 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."
He said: "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."
Orbih therefore challenged the governor to "pay outstanding salary arrears, pensions and other entitlements of workers rather than talk about a N25, 000 minimum wages. We challenge him to free the local governments from the bondage he has put them."
In a statement issued in Benin City by the PDP state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, the party described the governor's actions as a betrayal of trust and hasty when negotiations were still ongoing by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the N56,000 minimum wages for civil servants.
Orbih berated the governor for ignoring the core challenge of the state civil service which is recruiting people into the service rather than increasing the wage of a few workers.
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 wind fall, 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."
He said: "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."
Orbih therefore challenged the governor to "pay outstanding salary arrears, pensions and other entitlements of workers rather than talk about a N25, 000 minimum wages. We challenge him to free the local governments from the bondage he has put them."
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