By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Many Kogi state workers expressed joy at the State Secretariat, Lokoja on Tuesday, following the approval for the implementation of the N30,000 new national minimum wage by the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The agreement which covers the state workers and their counterparts at the local government councils is with partial consequential adjustment.
The Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, disclosed this after an extensive meeting with the Organised Labour in Lokoja on Tuesday.
She attributed the delay in the implementation of the new wage to the inability of the committee to meet regularly, following the COVID-19 pandemic,a development she noted had been overcome.
Ayoade gave kudos to the Organised Labour for their understanding and patience which she said resulted in the signing of the implementation.
The State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, also commended the Labour for the understanding as well as commitment on the issue, culminating in reaching a peaceful agreement.
Chief Onoja expressed the commitment of Governor Bello administration to the welfare of civil servants, assuring them that the present state government would continue to give priority attention to the welfare of its workforce.
Contributing, the Head of Service of the state (HoS),Mrs Hannah Odiyo, said that committee charged with the responsibility of seeing to the implementation of the new national minimum wage had completed its assignment with the signing of the agreement on the implementation.
Reacting to the development after signing the agreement, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Onuh Edoka, said with the implementation, Kogi State civil servants had been brought to the same level with their counterparts in other states of the federation where the implementation had commenced.
He said:” “The earlier notice of strike served on the State Government has been suspended with immediate effect.
“We commend the State Government for signing the agreement, with the mandate of immediate implementation, to give civil servants in the State a new lease of life.
He assured of civil servants commitment to enhance productivity of the Bello-led governmentovernment to enable it accomplish its aimed and objectives for the benefit of all and sundry in the state.
Our Correspondent gathered that the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Ranti Ojo; State Chairman NUJ, Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh; Chairman, NULGE, Tade Adeyemi among others also graced the occasion.
Public service workers are often referred to as the engine room for the implementation of policies and programmes of any government, any where in the world.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
