Oyo State Govenor, Seyi Makinde, has warned the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) not to restrict workers from accessing the secretariat to carry out their duties, starting from Monday, 7th of August.
Makinde, who gave this indication in a state-wide broadcast, on Saturday, noted that his government would not condone any act that is capable of disrupting the economic wheels of the state.
This was as the governor directed the civil servants to resume to work on Monday, as his government is ready to pay the two months deductions owed the workers with their August salary, while it will also explore further options on dialogue.
While saying that individuals and groups have the rights to protest, the governor noted that the State security apparatus has been mandated to ensure that the workers regain access to the secretariat.
He said: “In the last week, the Oyo State leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have made it impossible for Oyo State Civil Servants to resume work at the State Secretariat. As a government, we believe individuals and groups have a fundamental right to protest. However, we also believe in the axiom, ‘Your right ends where the right of others begins’.
“Therefore, while the leadership of the unions may choose to continue with their protest, they do not have the right to restrict the workers in Oyo State from accessing the secretariat to carry out their duties as usual.
“With the Oyo State economy being fragile, any acts that disrupt the economic wheels of the State is economic sabotage.
“I have therefore directed the State security apparatus to ensure that the workers of Oyo State regain access to the secretariat starting this Monday, August 7, 2023. I am also by this, directing all workers of Oyo State to resume their duty posts on Monday, August 7, 2023.
“As a government, we remain open to parleying with labour to ensure that the rights of the workers of Oyo State are protected. We encourage the union leaders to return to the negotiating table to discuss any increases in salary or possible harmonisation of pension payments.
“Let me also state that the Oyo State Government remains one of the most favourably committed to workers’ welfare in the entire federation. Since May 2019, we have paid all civil servants’ salaries and pensions on or before the 25th of every month without fail. And since January 2020, we have paid the minimum wage and consequential adjustments to all cadre of civil servants every month without fail.
“Presently, the civil servants’ wage bill stands at N7.2 billion monthly. We have continued to pay this despite having a state revenue of just below N10 billion monthly. It is, therefore, clear to understand why any increase in salaries or pensions may not be possible at this time.”
He stated that under the SAfEr package, agropreneurs trained under the Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP), who have established agribusinesses will receive enterprise support of five hundred million naira (N500,000,000), while small businesses will benefit from low-interest-rate loans with the provision of five hundred million naira (N500,000,000) facility.
He added that the state government is already updating its social register to capture 200,000 of the poorest of the poor, who will be provided with food relief packages and that 100,000 health insurance packages will be rolled out for the vulnerable in the society.
According to the governor, the services of the Omituntun Mass Transit Buses will be extended to cover inter-city routes across all the five zones of the state and that more Buses will be provided for the transportation of civil servants in the state.
“Let me now share details of our SAfER package. Following the pattern of our actions during the COVID-19 pandemic,we are updating our social register to include two hundred thousand (200,000) of the poorest of the poor. These will be provided with immediate food relief packages. As usual, we will ensure transparency in the registration process so that only those who qualify will get this immediate relief.
“We will be providing health insurance for 100,000 of our most vulnerable citizens. We will be paying their one-year health insurance premium under the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) scheme so that they have access to quality healthcare without paying out of pocket.
“The Omituntun Busservice will be extended to cover inter-city routes from Ibadan to all other zones of Oyo State. Details of their routes will be released in the coming weeks. So, we will have buses going from Ibadan to Ibarapa, Ibadan to Ogbomoso, Ibadan to Oke-Ogun and Ibadan to Oyo. The fares will be kept at low rates, while our senior citizens and students will board the buses at half price.
“Our farmers have not been left out. To ensure food security, we will be distributing additional inputs to 10,000 farmers. This is in addition to the input support being provided under the World Bank assisted OYS-CARES programme. Further details will be released through the relevant agencies in the coming weeks.
“Our youth agropreneurs who were trained under the Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP) and have established businesses will also have an opportunity to contribute to food security and sustainable development as they will receive enterprise support of five hundred million naira (N500,000,000) under the SAfER package. They will get further directives on how they will benefit from the relevant agencies.
“We have also resolved to assist small businesses to stay afloat through low-interest-rate loans with the provision of a five hundred million naira (N500,000,000) facility. Our traders, artisans and other small business operators can apply for these loans through designated micro-finance banks. Details of how they may enroll for and access these loans will be announced by the relevant agencies.
“Tertiary institution students in Oyo State will board the Omituntun Buses at half price upon showing their school identity card. We will also be meeting with the student leaders of tertiary institutions in Oyo State to agree on further measures which will be added to the SAfER package for students,” he added.
