Sanwo-Olu approves salary increase for workers

Governor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced an upward review of salaries for the over 100,000 public workers in the state.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who did not disclose the actual increment, said the increase will be above the Federal Government’s minimum wage standard, “as Lagos is a pacesetter and first in setting the standard.”

The governor also promised to pay all the outstanding backlog of pensions to workers by the end of October.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed these on Tuesday, while addressing a large crowd of workers who converged on the Head of Service, HOS’ office, during his working visit to the secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

On the salary review, the governor said: “We know there is inflation and high cost of living in the country, but we are determined to cushion the effects on our workers and residents.

“Last month (September), I instructed the Head of Service, HoS, the Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions to work out modalities for salary increase for the entire over 100,000 of public service workforce.“

We are capable of doing this. Lagos leads while others follow in Nigeria. In salary increment, we are leading again.

“We are going to reflect the popular Buga slogan in the payment of salaries. We are not going to wait for the Federal Government’s Minimum Wage increase.“We have commenced the process, I can assure that by early next year it wlil be ready for implementation.

“We don’t want to wait for workers’ unions to hold us to ransome before we do the needful.”

On the backlog of pensions, Sanwo-Olu stated, “I want to reassure you that all the few outstanding backlogs of pensions will be sorted out this week and payment by the end of October.“We are the highest and best paying pensions in Nigeria.

“We are clearing the entire backlog of pensions, it’s a liability we met on ground.”Recall that FG had earlier said there were plans to increase the N30,000 minimum wage in the light of inflation raving the world.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who revealed this at the Nigeria Labour Congress public presentation titled, “Contemporary history of working-class struggle” in Abuja, said the adjustment had become important to reflect what was happening globally.

He said, “The inflation is worldwide, we shall adjust the minimum wage in conformity with what is happening now. The 2019 Minimum Wage Act has a new clause for a review. The adjustment has started with the Academic Staff Union of University because the stage they are with their primary employers, Ministry of Education, is a collective bargaining agreement negotiations.“

Under the principles of offer and acceptance, which is that of collective bargaining, ASUU can look at the offer they gave us and make a counter offer, but they have not done that. If they do that, we are bound to look at their offer. These are the ingredients of collective negotiations.

”He added stated, “If you don’t work, you won’t eat,” adding that labour provided the riches of any nation as well as the prosperity of every family.