The campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state on Sunday criticised the timing of the salary increase for the state workers by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa on Saturday had announced the decision of his government to pay N73,000 minimum wage to the state workers.
The governor made the announcement while speaking during the flag-off of the gubernatorial campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo City ahead of the November 16 poll.
However, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the PDP campaign organisation, Ayo Fadaka, said in a statement that the salary increase was a political carrot designed to secure votes.
Fadaka urged the state civil servants not to be deceived by the increment, describing it as a Greek gift.
“It is disrespectful to announce the new minimum wage of dignified and decorous Ondo State Workers on the podium of the electioneering campaign, thereby politicising the welfare and well-being of the State Civil Service to gain undue political mileage in the forthcoming gubernatorial election slated for November 16,” he said.
He said a leader who genuinely cared about the welfare of his people would have since addressed the root causes of poverty, unemployment and decay of essential services in the state.
Fadaka said: “His administration has been defined by neglect, indifference and a stark lack of empathy for the plight of the common man.
“Rather than champion sustainable development and meaningful progress, he has opted to dangle this meagre wage increase as a political carrot, a last-ditch effort to manipulate and hoodwinked the electorate in pursuit of his selfish political survival.
“What makes Aiyedatiwa’s actions particularly unacceptable is the timing of this so-called wage hike. After months of inertia and complete disregard for the struggles of the workers who keep the state functioning, this insulting small increase is now paraded as an act of benevolence.
“The reality, however, is as clear as day: this cynical strategy is designed not to improve the lives of the hardworking people of Ondo State, but to salvage the political ambitions of a governor who has failed them at every turn.
“While Aiyedatiwa attempts to use this meagre raise as political bait, the grim truth remains unchanged.
“The state’s healthcare system is in disarray, educational institutions are crumbling, and infrastructure is in a state of collapse, his administration has failed to invest in the future of Ondo State, preferring instead to offer empty promises and engage in grandstanding, all while the people he is supposed to serve continue to bear the brunt of his failures.
“A truly compassionate and visionary leader would have embraced a comprehensive approach, implementing meaningful wage reforms as part of a broader strategy to uplift the living standards of the people.
“But Aiyedatiwa’s wickedness is evident in his blatant disregard for the real issues confronting Ondo State, his selfishness shines through in his refusal to tackle the systemic problems his administration has created, choosing instead to insult the intelligence of the electorate with a meagre ₦3,000 increment, an afterthought that does nothing to alleviate the struggles of the people.
“The people of Ondo State deserve a leader who prioritises their welfare over personal gain, one who enacts policies driven by genuine concern, not political expediency.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa has proven himself to be anything but that. This ill-timed wage increase is yet another act of deceit from a governor whose leadership has been marked by irresponsibility and a relentless pursuit of self-interest his actions are a stark reminder of his callous and self-serving approach to governance, leaving the people of Ondo State to demand the better leadership they rightfully deserve.
“Here is a man who has promised to pay the leave bonus for Ondo State workers for the past two months but to no avail. Some people might argue that a leave bonus is not the exclusive right of Civil Servants, but integrity matters in everything we do in this life. As a governor, if you know you won’t do something, don’t promise it!
“The teeming Civil Servants in Ondo State see this latest promise about a new minimum wage increment as another Greek gift to hoodwink unsuspecting members of Ondo State civil service into voting for him.
“The timing is ill-conceived, and nobody is going to take him seriously because he has deceived the civil service once, and they won’t allow him to deceive them one more time – Once bitten, twice shy!”
‘Carrot Meant To Hoodwink Electorate’ – PDP Slams Salary Increase For Ondo Workers is first published on NewsNGR Newspaper