Ekiti: Organized Labour Rejects Gov Fayemi’s Economic Measures |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Organized Labour in Ekiti State has presented its position on the recently announced measures by the State Government to reduce cost of governance occasioned by dwindling resources.

At a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti early this month, it was agreed that subventions to Government owned tertiary Institutions should be slashed.

The decision was reached after Governor Kayode Fayemi announced that the cost of governance must be reduced due to paucity of funds, especially from the Federation Account.

Other measures put forward include cutting, or total stoppage of running grants to offices, and discontinuation of the consequential adjustments of the minimum wage for senior category of workers, as well as ramping up of tax collection in a bid to shore up Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The Governor had earlier told the stakeholders that there was the need to reflect the economic reality and development in the country in order to avert possible economic crisis.

But, organized labour in the State, under the Joint Negotiating Council, (JNC) rejected the withdrawal of minimum wage and consequential adjustment.

JNC insisted that government should continue to release  subventions to deserved institutions.

A statement made public after a meeting with Governor Fayemi by the workers group states that: “The Organized Labour in Ekiti State met today with Mr Governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi on the state of the economy in the State.

“The Organized Labour comprising NLC TUC and JNC  expressed the position of the entire workforce to Mr Governor that Workers of Ekiti State rejected any withdrawal of minimum wage and consequential adjustment payment of the State which is a product of a process that has been signed to law.

“In the same vein, the Organized Labour rejected any stoppage of subventions to all the subvented institutions in Ekiti State.

“Also, the State Organized Labour,  viewed any attempt under any guise to further impoverish the living standard of workers and all vulnerable groups in Ekiti State as unacceptable.

“To this end, the State Organized Labour further advocated for the inclusion of GL 13- GL 17 in the implementation of the consequential adjustment payment among other arrears of workers welfare.

“Flowing from the above, the leadership of the Organized Labour promised the entire workers that there is no way we will comprise on the welfare of workers in the State, hence, workers should be rest assured of our commitment at all times to their yearnings and aspirations.”

The statement was signed by Kolapo Olatunde, NLC Chairman; Mrs Akinyemi Taiwo NLC Secretary; Sola Adigun,TUC Chairman; Kuloogun Lawrence,TUC Secretary; Kayode Fatomiluyi, JNC

Chairman; and Gbenga Olowoyo JNC Secretary.