Gov Ododo approves #72,500 minimum wage with immediate effect.
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
Against the backdrop of the approval of minimum wage act by the federal government, Kogi state governor, Alh. Usman Ododo on Monday approved #72,500 minimum wage for state and Local Government Council workers.
The commencement of the payment is with immediate effect.
The approval of the # 72,500 minimum wage is #2,500 higher than the one that was approved in July by the federal government for workers in both private and public sectors.
Ododo who gave the approval while receiving report from the minimum wage implementation committee, headed by the state Head of Service, Elijah Avenemi , said he is committed to the overall welfare of all cadres of workers in the state.
The governor also gave tax holidays to all the workers in the state for the next one year adding that no Pay- as – you – earn ( PAYE) tax nor any form of deductions will be made within the next one year.
Governor Ododo who said having been a labour leader and a civil servant before going into partisan politics, he knew what the civil servants were passing through and that now that God has made him the governor, he would do all within the state resources to provide succour for the state work force.
In his words: ” I can not forget where I came from, I am a man from a humble background who became who I am by the grace of God and will therefore not use my position to oppress anyone but to better the lots of the people
” You people generously elected me as your governor and the resources of the state belong to you all, I am just your chief servant and I will ensure that the resources are allocated to all sectors fairly and equitably.
” All you have seen today is the painstaking efforts of the labour leaders and government who conducted staff audit by the previous administration all in a bid to ensure that the right people take what belong to them as workers and not ghost workers ” he added
Ododo then called on the workers to continue to cooperate with his administration and give him all the necessary support to succeed assuring them of prompt payment of their salaries.
Earlier, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Gabriel Amari who spoke on behalf of the organized labour in the state, commended the governor for all his efforts and described Ododo as the best workers’ friendly governor the state has ever had.
The NLC chairman who expressed surprise with the seamless efforts at which the implementation committee arrived at the new minimum wage said some states in the federation were yet to set an implementation committee while the one kogi state set up on September 17, in less than one month has come out with a minimum wage that gives joy to the workers.
He promised on behalf of the workers to be more committed to their duties to continue to cooperate with the governor to carry out his good plans for the state.
