The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) Osun state chapter, has called on governor Gboyega Oyetola, to start the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage to all categories of workers in the state.
The party in a statement signed by its governorship candidate and the Secretary, Alfred Adegoke and Kola Ibrahim, and made available to news men in Osogbo, on Sunday, noted that Osun State is among the states that have not taken any step in implementing the new minimum wage.
The statement also urged the government to pay all the half salaries arrears owed workers by the immediate past Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
“In addition, we call on the government to immediately offset the over thirty months’ arrears of half-salaries and half-pensions owed workers and retirees in Osun State.
“It is condemnable the continuous failure of the government to pay the arrears of salaries and pensions owed workers since 2015 under the anti-worker Aregbesola government.
“It is interesting to note that the current governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, as the Chief of Staff to the Aregbesola government, was the leader of the government committee that planned and effected the payment of half salaries and half pensions to workers and retirees for over thirty months.
“Despite the promise of the outgone government to offset the arrears, the government refused to pay the arrears. Rather, the Aregbesola government left a legacy of unsustainable debts, uncompleted projects and mass misery, for the state.
“Aside the extortionate levies and taxes imposed on people of the state, coupled with criminal commercialization of social services like education and healthcare, the Oyetola government has been encroaching on workers’ salaries through anti-worker policies such as monthly deduction for health insurance and water levy, even when the government neither provide functional healthcare nor potable water supply for the citizens.
“The same government that is always shouting poor financial resources, has been busy committing the state resources to private pockets. For instance, the government currently has an over-bloated cabinet comprising thirty five commissioners and advisers, not to mention countless number of aides; all of whom are paid mouth-watery emoluments.
“If the state government will not review the committal of state resources to corruption, extravagance and mismanagement, there is no basis for the state government not to pay the new minimum wage and offset the arrears of salaries and pensions.
“We of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Osun State therefore call on workers in the state to put pressure on leadership of trade unions in Osun State to begin the process of compelling the Oyetola government to pay the N30, 000 minimum wage and over 30-month arrears of half-salaries and half-pensions.
