Approve N35,000 Wage For Osun Workers, Labour Leaders Tell Adeleke

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been urged by the leadership of the Labour Movement in the state to approve the recently announced N35, 000 minimum wage award to all categories of workers in the state.

The demand was contained in a letter addressed to the governor, dated Friday, October 6, 2023, and jointly signed by the acting state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Modupe Oyedele, the chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Osun, ‘Bimbo Fasasi and Joint Negotiating Council chairman, Lasun Akindele.

The labour unions recalled that letters were previously written to the governor on the demands for higher wage in June, while a reminder was also sent in July.

The letter copies of which were obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday partly read, “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress has directed that all State Councils to immediately engage their respective state governments in effecting the agreed sum of Thirty Five Thousand Naira (#35,000) only wage rewards to all categories of workers across board in the state service.

“Your Excellency will recall that the state Labour Movement had already written to you on the subject matter earlier sometime in the month of June and a follow up reminder was also sent in July to that effect.

“The Labour Movement in the state is not in any way in doubt of Your Excellency’s kind disposition towards the workers in the state. We are confident that worker’s welfare is important and very dear to your heart.

“It is therefore in this spirit that we urge Your Excellency to graciously approve the agreed sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Naira (#35,000) only wage rewards to all categories of workers across board in the state service commencing from the month of September, 2023 as contained in the signed memorandum of understanding that averted the proposed strike.”

According to the labour leaders, approving the new wage would go a long way in ameliorating and cushioning the hardship workers were going through due to the subsidy removal on petrol with its attendant biting economic effects.

When contacted for reaction, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, who noted that it may be too early to comment on the issue, further said “the government will definitely invite the labour leaders for negotiation on the issue.”