Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has said that his administration was putting efforts in place to ensure that the new minimum wage is implemented
He disclosed this when he met with the leadership of the Organised Labour at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, the state capital.
Abiodun, who acknowledged that the state civil servants have been instrumental in the rapid economic growth of the state, promised the union leadership that his government was ready to implement the new minimum wage.
The Governor said, “On the new minimum wage, all hands are on deck working assiduously, and I am sure that as always, we will not be number two in the implementation of the minimum wage.
“I have told my team that we should roll up our sleeves; we should work as hard as we can without putting undue pressure on our people. We should be creative, more efficient, block loopholes, and increase our revenue so that we can afford to pay the new minimum wage comfortably, and by the grace of God, we will not be second in terms of implementation.”
The governor asked for more collaboration with the Organised Labour, saying their cooperation has led to economic prosperity as the state budget has increased from less than N400 billion at the inception of the administration to the current N703 billion with an 80 per cent performance.
He disclosed that the state is aiming at a trillion Naira budget for next year’s appropriation.
Abiodun noted that he initiated the meeting as part of efforts to engage stakeholders involved in the movement of people to find solutions to the current situation caused by the fuel subsidy removal.
He, however, explained the intricacies of the oil sector, noting that the current realities are the fallout of the Federal Government’s decision, to reposition the nation’s economy for stability