Fayemi Meets Labour Leaders, Pledges to Prioritise Workers’ Benefits

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said his administration would continue to meet workers’ demands targeted at improving their welfare and condition of service in the state.

Fayemi gave the assurance yesterday during a roundtable with executives of the organised labour unions comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.

The governor assured the labour union leaders that all agitations raised in respect of workers’ promotion, leave bonuses, salaries, pension, gratuity and other cogent matters that affect workers’ welfare would continue to be accorded top priority.

In attendance at the meeting were the Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Biodun Omoleye; Special Assistant on Labour Matters, Oluyemi Esan; Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Evang. Folusho Daramola, and state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Akin Oyebode, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, James Folorunsho; Chairmen of NLC, TUC and JNC, Kolapo Olatunde, Sola Adigun, and Kayode Fatomiluyi respectively, as well as other labour leaders in the state.

Fayemi also ordered that chairmen of each of the union to meet with the government representatives comprising the Head of Service, Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development and the Special Assistant on Labour Matters to work out a paper presentation of the demands tabled during the meeting for further considerations.

He said: “I have noted down for consideration all your demands as raised by the chairmen of the unions on workers’ salary, leave bonuses, implementation of minimum wages to the letter, House of Assembly laid off workers, subventions to state owned tertiary institutions and other matters that affect our workers.

“As witnessed in the past three years, our government will continue to demonstrate in strong practical terms to improve the welfare and condition of service of our workers.”

Also, the Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, in her remarks, commended the governor for approving the sum of N400 million to clear backlog of gratuity arrears for retired state workers. She said the state government has continued to meet its monthly obligations to the workers despite the economic situation because of the commitment of the governor to workers’ welfare.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Special Assistant on Labour Matters, Oluyemi Esan, commended Fayemi for creating a veritable platform that permit labour union leaders to present the agitation of their members to government.

In their separate speeches, the state Chairman of NLC, Olatunde; his counterparts in TUC and JNC, Adigun and Fatomiluyi, who commended the governor for his giant stride in infrastructural development and prompt payment of salaries, solicited for government intervention in reinstating legislative workers that were laid off by the Assembly early this year and implement the use of current retiring officers’ grade level in preparing their gratuities.