By Dodor Okafor
1. On the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage: Please note that the N30, 000 national minimum wage became effective around April 2019.
This present administration led by Gov. Alex C. Otti assumed office on May 29 2023, more than 4 years after the new minimum wage became a national law. Who could have thought that workers in the State were not paid what had become the national average? Question is: Why? Why did we not hear about this failure at the time?
2. On accumulated arrears owed workers in the institutions and parastatals: It is public knowledge that those arrears were accumulated over an 8 year period. 8 long years and someone thought it was OK to owe people for 33 months, 18 months, 11 months? Why?
3. On wage awards: This is not a bad idea because the economic realities have changed drastically in the last year due to developments that happened outside the control of the present administration in the State. Gov. Otti very much appreciates this reality and is very positively disposed to a robust support system for the workers. But is attacking him on radio and WhatsApp groups the best means to achieve it? Is threatening that he would be a one term Governor the best approach to adopt? I don’t even know how second or third term became an issue when the governor is still very much committed to delivering on the mandate he currently has, serving the people and redeeming the promises that won him the support of voters successively?
4. On the Governor not engaging with Labour unions: This is clearly not true. With every sense of modesty, Gov. Otti has made himself very readily available to engage and interact with any group that has a good reason to see him, not just the workers and their leadership but just about anyone. He listens, takes in information and acts. Look at his monthly press engagements for example: how many governors in our history as a people regularly engage hundreds of journalists from online, print, and broadcast media, and then millions of others at home, asking questions and getting feedbacks? Recall that the Governor attended the last May Day celebrations in person and committed to paying whatever new national minimum wage is agreed upon by workers and the Federal Government. Why on earth will anyone accuse this Governor of not been interested in the welfare of workers?
5. On regular staff verifications: Please is it no longer the prerogative of the employer to verify the competencies and credentials of those in its employ? Why should this even be an issue? Does anyone support having persons with questionable credentials and falsified records in the workforce? What really does anyone expect in a system where many are operating with false credentials? Can they be as productive as one would expect? How about we weed out those who have no business being in the civil service so as to make room for those who really have the competencies to drive the implementation of government policies and programmes?
6. Salaries: Please know that this is the first government in the history of the State that has remained consistent in the timely payment of salaries. The present administration under Gov. Otti has never for once defaulted in its promise to pay workers on or before the 28th of every month. In fact December 2023 salaries were paid by 15th and the 13 month allowance paid days later. We may wish to play politics but facts must never be obfuscated for they are sacred.
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