Ekiti State Government has approved the immediate implementation of N70,000 minimum wage with consequential benefits for workers in the state civil service and local governments with effective payment from November.
The State Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi disclosed this in Ado Ekiti.
Present at the occasion were the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Mr Kolapo Olatunde, his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress, Mr Sola Adigun, Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Femi Ajoloko, NULGE State President and the Commissioner of Information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun.
Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr Olomojobi explained that the 13 member committee had met for some months, negotiated and ruminated before arriving at the new salary structure.
The outcome, according to her, had received the consent of the governor.
Oomojobi noted the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Ekiti State Government was significant compared with other sub nationals, as it accommodates consequential adjustments across all categories of workers, both in the state and local government service, while pensioners were not left out of the increment.
Olomojobi commended workers for their endurance and trust in the administration thus far and charged them to be optimal in their work places.
Responding, the labour leaders said the minimum wage table approved by Ekiti State Government was one of the best in the south western states, saying all categories of workers across various ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals, as well as those in the local government service, will benefit on the wage increase
They thanked Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his welfarist approach to workers demands and called on the workers to reciprocate the gesture by redoubling their efforts for the actualization of government’s programmes for the state.
The Commissioner of Information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun described Oyebanji as a promise keeper.
The Committee on Negotiation of the Minimum Wage was set up by Oyebanji in early September 2024, sequel to the signing of the National Minimum Wage into law by President Bola Tinubu.