By PAUL ADAJI, Abuja –
Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last election in Kogi State, Alhaj Muritala Yakubu Ajaka,
has urged other States, the private sector and other employers of labor in the country to emulate the feat Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki who to raised the minimum wage of the state civil servants to N70,000 per month.
Ajaka made the appeal on Wednesday while felicitating with the Nigerian workers on this year’s May Day celebration.
In a Statement personally signed by Alhaji Ajaka and made available to news men in Abuja to commemorate the May Day celebration, he congratulated the Nigerian workers for their exemplary patriotism and spartan resilience, especially in recent times when the cost of living for the common man in the country is at on high side.
“On this note, I acknowledge with the highest respect the approval of His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki-the Governor of Edo State for the payment henceforth, of N70,000.00 minimum wage to Edo workers. This feat should be the irreducible minimum for other States, the private sector and other employers across Nigeria,” he said.
“Indeed, I join other well-meaning countrymen and women in applauding the exemplary patriotism and spartan resilience of the Nigerian worker especially in recent times when the cost of living for the common man in our nation is at an all time high, largely due to the hydra-headed malaise of systemic financial haemorrhage and economic sabotage dubiously perpetrated by a few vested interests that tamper with the workings of our nation’s foreign exchange machinery.
” Expectedly, the ripple consequence of these have impacted negatively on the power of the Naira, thereby stoking prices of basic commodities and services through the roof tops of Nigerians. I salute the organised Labour championed by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for their relentless struggle to balance the perennial interests of workers with government policies on wage distribution and other socio-economic cum political variables of Nigeria’s political economy,” he further said.
The SDP candidate acknowledged the bold steps being taken by the present administration to address the various multifaceted social, security and economic changes facing the country in order to improve the standard of living of the citizens
According to him, ” the good news is that this administration is fast strengthening the arms of strategic institutions of government that are responsible for managing the monetary, fiscal and financial integrity of Nigeria to close hideous gaps that facilitate corruption and debilitating duplicity which undermine the economic fitness of our dear nation.
” Impactful as government’s drive to heal the ominous malady of our economy is, I further urge that the minimum wage upgrade of Nigerian workers at all cadres should be fully implemented forthwith in order that they may receive a true living wage that can guarantee an agreeable life. This will inarguably signpost honour, empathy and commitment to the virtue of social justice and equity.
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