Ogun to Meet Labour Over New Minimum

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said that his administration would do all in its power to come up with a decision on the new minimum wage.

The governor said a meeting with labour leaders in the state would be held with a view to arriving at a decision that is favourable to both the government and the workers.

The governor, who made this known during the year 2024 Worker’s Day celebration and rally, tagged: ‘People First’, also added that his administration has paid a total of N128.3 billion as pensions and gratuities to both local and state government retirees in the state.

“On minimum wage, your ever responsive administration has done a lot of work, which is aimed at arriving at a position that we can sustain in line with our inclusive style of governance.

“We will soon be calling a meeting with the organized labour leaders to finalize the Ogun State Government Minimum decision,” he said.

Prince Abiodun noted that the state government has paid N2.8 billion as leave bonuses to workers, with the bonus entitlement for the year 2023 and January to March 2024, also paid by his administration.

In addition, N13.4 billion outstanding deductions have been paid to workers.

While also noting that his administration has paid over N8 billion as palliatives to state government workers and pensioners, Abiodun added that car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 per cent by his administration.

Governor Abiodun further added that about 10,982 civil servants have benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1.3 billion disbursed so far.

The governor added that his administration has also consistently provided a N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants for the past nine months, totaling N8billion.

“We are diligently remitting the backlog of inherited deductions and have consistently paid the agreed outstanding deductions. These deductions that have been paid up to March 2024 have totalled about N13.4billion since I assumed office.

“We continue to pay pension and gratuity to both state and local governments, totalling approximately N118.7billion and N9.6 billion, respectively, for a total of N128.3billion.

“Payment of leave bonuses for all beneficiaries at the state, local and SUBEB amounting to about N2.9 billion.

“It is important to state that bonus entitlement for 2023 and from January to March 2024 have all been paid. Payment on palliatives for state government staff, parastatals, corporations, institutions, and pensioners totalling about N8 billion.

“The car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 per cent, providing enhanced financial support for all civil servants.

“Up to March 2024, about 10,982 civil servants have benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1 billion disbursed,” he said.

The governor also added that his administration has continued to pay 40% of the basic salary of workers in the state as Peculiar Allowance, adding that Ogun Teach interns will after two years minimum meritorious service get migrated into the mainstream of the civil service.

“I directed last year that TESCOM and SUBEB engage additional 2000 OgunTEACh interns, increasing the total number of interns engaged to 4,000 out of 5000 target …I directed that 1000 of the interns that have served more than two years and have been evaluated and found worthy be absorbed into mainstream civil service

“I have now decided to turn this into a policy going forward, Ogun TeacH interns will now after 2 years minimum meritorious service and passing evaluation will be migrated into mainstream civil service,” he said.