Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has constituted a committee to review workers’ wages in the state. This is coming a few days after the removal of subsidy on petroleum by the federal government.
The committee has eight weeks to give its report after being established during a meeting with state labor leaders in Ibadan, the state’s capital.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inaugural speech has said that the regime of fuel subsidy was gone.
A meeting between the State Government and the labour was attended by Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Kayode Martins and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Olatunbosun Olabiyi.
The Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal; Head of Service, Bunmi Oni; former Deputy Governor, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; former Special Adviser on Labour, Bayo Titilola-Sodo and wife of former governor, Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja were also at the meeting.
Makinde said the committee became necessary in view of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
He said, “For us, with all sincerity, I think it is time to engage and ensure that we are proactive, irrespective of what is coming from the federal level. We are already prepared for it here and we can run our own programmes.
“Yes, the fuel subsidy removal is going to affect all of us but we do have control over certain things in Oyo State, and one of these is to be proactive and engage ourselves.
“They may call for strike or certain actions at the federal level but the labour leaders in Oyo State must be aware of our own situation”.
So, we must appreciate the fact that our economy is fragile. We must be proactive and set the tone without prejudice to whatever negotiation is happening at the Federal level.
“I can say to the whole world that in the state, there is no trust deficit between the government and labour leaders. It actually goes both ways. If we agree on what to do, I don’t look back, and if you have my commitment to anything, you should not look back. Whatever is happening at the national level should not create any trust deficit between us. So, I welcome you all to Omituntun 2.0.” The governor stated.
