The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has tasked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Gov Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration on the deadline for the newly inaugurated committee on new minimum wage consequential adjustment implementation in the state.
This was made known via a statement issued by the main opposition party and made available to Accurate News by its publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara said failure to give the committee a timeframe is questionable.
The statement read: “Our party questions the governor’s true intentions and commitment to full and timely implementation of the new minimum wage law to all cadres of Kwara workforce, including the local government workers.
“Noting that Kwara State’s financial capacity has significantly improved, with monthly allocations now exceeding N7 billion aside from undisclosed monthly IGR. Given this unprecedented increase in revenue, there is no justifiable reason for the Governor to delay the full implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
OUR CONCERNS:
1. Lack of Timeframe:
“By not providing the committee with a specific deadline, the Governor has effectively ambushed the workers, who may now be forced to wait indefinitely, possibly until 2026 or 2027, for the committee’s report and subsequent implementation.
2. Sincerity of Commitment:
“Governor Abdulrahman’s purported commitment to a living wage for Kwara workers is questionable. The Gov intention appears to be to start payments only to lower cadre workers (Grade Level 1-6), who represent less than 6% of the states workforce, while higher cadres are left in uncertainty. This approach undermines the spirit of true minimum wage law.
3. Historical Precedent of Gov AA:
“Any attempt to repeat the N30,000 minimum wage scenario, where lower cadre workers earned more than their seniors, would devalue the new minimum wage. It is imperative that this implementation starts simultaneously for all cadres to ensure fairness and morale within the workforce.
- Transparency and Accountability:
“We challenge the government to publish the workforce strength under both the state and local government payrolls and to provide monthly reports of allocations received by Kwara. This transparency will ensure that committee members and the public have the necessary information to make informed decisions.
5. Increased Allocations:
“With the unprecedented increase in monthly FAAC allocations, now exceeding N7 billion in some months, there should be no delay in the full and timely implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for all cadres of workers across the state.
6. Unfulfilled Otoge Promises:
“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq must fulfill the promises made to Kwara workers during the 2019 “Otoge” campaigns, where salary issues were used as propaganda against the PDP administration. We look forward to implememtation of salary structures in Kwara to be more than Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Kogi state as promised.
“In light of these points, we urge Governor AbdulRazaq to prioritize the welfare of the workers who form the backbone of our state. The new minimum wage is not just a figure; it is a legal obligation and a moral one, especially considering the current economic hardships faced by many families in the state. The welfare of workers should not be compromised or subjected to unnecessary adjustments when the resources to fulfill these obligations are readily available.
“The time for political rhetoric is over. The people of Kwara deserve actions that reflect the significant financial improvements the state now enjoys. We will not stand by and watch as our workers are denied their rightful earnings under the guise of deceptive consequential adjustments process.” PDP statement read.
Governor AbdulRazaq had earlier in the week announced and inaugurated an 18-person committee which comprises commissioners, bureaucrats, labour leaders, and private sector players.
According to the governor, “The setting up of this committee sets out the process for the implementation of the national minimum wage in Kwara State. Following a legislative backing by the National Assembly, the President has recently approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage. We welcome the development in Kwara State. But the law means more than just paying N70,000 to the lowest ranking worker. It involves working out the maths on how this affects the take home for senior workers on different cadres,” the Governor said.
