A former state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Special Adviser to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde on Labour Affairs, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo has come hard on individuals critising the ‘Seyi Makinde-led Administration over prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, describing such persons as either ‘irresponsibly ignorant’ or ‘satanically mischievous’.
According him, no state government has improved the state’s infrastructure more than the Makinde-led administration in the last three years.
Comrade Titilola-Sodo made the statement while participating in a monthly personality platform run by a network of Ibadan-based internet media.
“The state government pays them as and when due
“One might expect a lot from someone they give a lot to. The government has consistently asked the employees to perform their jobs diligently, honestly, and with loyalty to the government and the people of Oyo State.
“Anyone who claims that timely payment of wages, benefits, and gratuities does not constitute achievement is either dangerously uninformed or maliciously demonic. Napoleon cannot be surpassed by someone who accomplishes what he was unable to”, he affirmed.
On the working relationship with Governor Makinde, he said that the assessment should be based on individual basis.
“Depending on the perception of the person working with him. But to me, I have found him a pleasant person to work with. All what I know is that anyone that wants to engage him must be fully prepared”, he added.
Responding to a question of when the state government may review workers’ salary in view of the current economic situation in the land, Titilola-Sodo who was also former NULGE President in Oyo State said: “The minimum wage in Oyo State was negotiated in February 2020.
“Respective councils were directed to embark on negotiation in December 2021 which was concluded within two months. The minimum wage payment took effect in January and February salary was paid in line with the new minimum wage. So, arrears of the minimum wage were paid in March.
“The minimum wage in Oyo State is N30,500. Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has been paying. He has been keeping to his promise by paying workers’ salary on or before 25th day of every month.
“The minimum wage negotiation was the first of its kind in Oyo State. It was a negotiation that was devoid of rancour, violence, protest and strike. The governor doesn’t wait for federal allocation before paying the workers.
“Although, the salary has not been reviewed upward, we have continued to meet our responsibilities as and when due. Paying workers’ entitlement is not limited to the active workers; the senior citizens are not left behind. This present government has committed over N13.5billion to payment of gratuities across board in the state”, Titilola-Sodo explained.
Speaking on LAUTECH’s position to the ongoing ASUU strike in the nation, he remarked: “The tertiary institutions have the right to make their demands but they should be reasonable in making their demands. No domestic issue with LAUTECH until the national Academic Staff Union of Universities declared a strike. The institution joined the strike but we have other state universities that didn’t join.
“We are appealing to them to resume because the institution is just coming out of crisis ridden period. When Oyo State took over the institution, there was an agreement to pay N8billion to Osun State as settlement which the state government has been paying. This is an open secret to which many of the staff of the institution are aware. So, if we now say something is happening nationally, should we now jeopardise the interest of the institution, students and the environment where it is located?”, he asked.
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