Ondo State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to raise the state’s minimum wage to N256,950 for public workers.
Gatekeepers News reports that state employees currently earn N73,000, an amount the union says no longer meets basic living needs due to inflation, naira depreciation, and the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
In a letter dated September 19 and signed by Chairman Ademola Olapade and Secretary Akin Sunday, the union commended the state government for consistent salary and pension payments as well as timely promotions.
However, it emphasised that workers’ purchasing power has been severely weakened by rising economic pressures.
The letter also pointed to Ondo’s growing internally generated revenue and improved federal allocations, largely due to higher oil earnings, as justification for a wage review. The NLC reminded the government of its earlier pledge to adjust workers’ welfare in line with revenue growth.
Referencing Imo State’s recent approval of a N104,000 minimum wage despite being a non-oil producing state, the Ondo NLC insisted that Ondo, being an oil-producing state, should lead by example.
According to NLC, the engine of governance and productivity, while pensioners deserve dignity after years of service.
It called on the state government to immediately establish a negotiation committee comprising labour leaders, government officials, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the proposed wage structure.
