By Ismail Auwal
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has raised the state workers’ minimum wage from N30,000 to N40,000, up from N30,000 approved by the federal government.
Obaseki made the announcement on Sunday during the state’s Workers’ Day celebrations in 2022.
He said, “As we all know, the minimum of N30,000 can barely sustain a family, it will be immoral and mindless of us to continue to pretend that we do not know that our workers are suffering.”
“The government of Edo have now decided to review the minimum for Edo workers from N30,000 to N40,000 a month, undoubtedly, Edo is the first state since the current outbreak of coronavirus to take this initiative,” he said
Obaseki stated that the government is willing to make sacrifices so that workers can live better lives, claiming that the small adjustments would mitigate the impact of inflation.
Speaking about the pensioners, he stated that his administration was interested in making payments to them of outstanding pensions, despite the fact that the pensions were held by the previous administration.
“In view of the prevailing economic circumstances, I have now approved effective this May that the agreement we have reached with the Union of Pensioners that the harmonized amount would be paid from May 2022.”
He said to avoid such cases of pensioners being owed, his administration has keyed into the contributory pension scheme just as he said his administration has paid all pension arrears and would commence the next stage soon.
Meanwhile, during the celebration, some pensioners who retired in 2012 staged a protest over the non-payment of their gratuities.
The pensioners, dressed in black, held placards pleading with Obaseki to save them by paying their gratuities.
Irene Aiguobarueghian, one of the pensioners who spoke to journalists, stated that since their retirement, they have only received their monthly payment and have yet to receive their gratuity.
