The immediate past Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party in Ekiti State , Mrs Ogun Funmilayo Theresa, popularly called OFT, has advised Governor Biodun Oyebanji against delaying implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
“I also want to advise that under this hardship being experienced by workers, I don’t expect any government to pay less than N70,000 minimum wage. It is even too little, but it can be a starting point and Ekiti State shouldn’t go below that threshold recognised by the law”, OFT said.
Funmi Ogun gave the advice in Ado Ekiti while interacting with journalists at her political headquarters called OFT House in Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti on Saturday.
The PDP leader said Nigerians have suffered enough, Ekiti people inclusive under APC government. She believed the government of Ekiti must begin the implementation without further delay.
Funmi Ogun expressed disappointment at the way Ekiti government delayed the constitution of minimum wage committee when some states have started implementation.
The politician and former Commissioner for Works said “I think Ekiti workers deserve the best in the implementation of the new Minimum Wage and the best they can get is for the government to pay nothing less than what was stipulated in the law: N70,000 minimum.
“The economy has collapsed under the APC watch and the minimum wage was envisaged as part of the ways to cushion the effect on the people. Why are some governors, Governor Biodun Oyebanji inclusive still delaying action on the implementation?
” The minimum wage is just a little fraction of what the government of each state is getting from the federation as allocation and I don’t expect any delay, particularly in a state like Ekiti”, the former Commissioner stated.
Funmi Ogun further warned that the Ekiti State economy may collapse if minimum wage is not implemented in time, because the economy depends largely on civil service with little or no industrial growth.
“We can only survive when the civil servants are well paid because virtually all our industries like Ire Brick, Ikun dairy, ROMACO and even Ikogosi are in a very bad state. Or better called state of comatose. The only flourishing business is the civil service and nothing must be spared to make that sector vibrant and well paid”.
She promised that Ekiti PDP will strengthen the civil service through implementation of living wage if returned to power in 2026 governorship election.