A socio-political group, Ondo Arise Initiative has tagged the intention of Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa to start paying the 73,000 minimum wage in November, few days after the governorship election as the height of insensitivity.
The group in a statement in Akure, the Ondo state capital, also wondered why the governor would announce the payment of the minimum wage, which has been paid in most states of the country, at a time when election is around the corner.
The statement signed by Ade Awoniyi, added that the idea is a slap on the face on well-meaning Ondo state indigenes. He argued that the State, an oil-producing one at that, should have commenced the payment of the minimum wage, with payment of arrears from the month the president signed the bill.
The group further noted that Aiyedatiwa, since the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, has been earning about N10bn every month as federal allocation, adding that the Governor has nothing to show for it since inception of his administration since last December, when the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu died.
“Ondo state workers need to be weary of the Greek Gift from the Governor, who could spend billions of naira to remunerate his recently appointed 344 aides every month, but find it hard to pay N73,000 minimum wage.
“It is the height of insensitivity that the Governor needed to wait till the month of election to pay the minimum wage. The question that begs for answer is, “why can’t he back date the payment to the time the president assented the bill?”
“As an oil producing state, Ondo State deserves the best. The workers should not be treated the way Governor Aiyedatiwa is currently treating them,” the statement concluded.
