The Governor of Ondo State and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16 governorship election, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved a minimum wage of N73,000 for civil servants in the state.
The federal government and the organised labour had in September signed an agreement on the new minimum wage of N70,000 for government workers in the country.
Aiyedatiwa, who was accompanied by his deputy, Chief Olayide Adelami, and top party members, announced the new salary wage on Saturday at the Ondo Central APC flag-off campaign at Ondo West Local Government Area of the state ahead of the offcycle governorship election.
The governor said his administration, which came on board 10 months ago after the demise of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, had been changing the face of governance in the state, especially with an improvement on the welfare of the civil servants.
While noting that the state government workers were being motivated through training opportunities and promotion exercises, Aiyedatiwa explained that the state had not relented from the prompt payment of workers salary and arears.
“Our civil servants are being motivated through different traning programmes, and their salary are being paid regularly. We do not owe, but let me announce to you that this administration has decided to implement the new minimum wage.
“Even though the minimum wage is supposed to be N70,000, ours is going to be N73,000. We would continue to improve on your welfare and advance further. By November 16, 2024, come out en mass and vote for APC,” the governor said.
Highlightening the various developmental projects embarked upon by the government for the benefits of the people, Aiyedatiwa asserted that his administration had been able to touch virtually all the sectors of the state, stressing that it was important to continue the work.
He listed the projects to include the construction of rural roads for the benefit of farmers to ease transportation of foods to the urban centres and ensure food security.
He said some of the projects under construction and at advanced stages would be completed if voted to return to power in the upcoming election.
“We have also strengthened our security architecture, especially with our home-grown Amotekun, through the establishment of the forest-rangers to be able to protect our farmers on their farmland and with a good tie with other conventional security agencies in the state.
“Also, the educational sector has been touched with the renovations of our primary and secondary schools and employment of teachers. The health sector is not also left behind as the state has increased the salary of medical personnel to reduce the japa syndrome in the state.
“The present administration has also carried out various empowerment programme for our youths to able to be great entrepreneurs and self-reliance. In the areas of sport, we are currently renovating the Akure sport stadium to improve sporting activities in the state. We are doing so much not mentioned, but by the time we receive your mandate again, we shall do more.”
Earlier, a member of the House of Representatives and Director General of Aiyedatiwa’s campaign council, Hon Abiola Makinde, said the governor had performed well with various masses-oreinted programme to get a return to the Alagbaka government house.
Makinde, who emphasised that APC remained the party to beat in the upcoming governorship election, urged the people to use their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to speak on the election day by returning Aiyedatiwa to power.
In his remarks, Ade Adetimehin, the state APC chairman, advised party members to return to their units and wards by canvassing support for the party’s governorship candidate in the election.
He expressed optimism that Aiyedatiwa would record 80 percent of votes in the election and would have a landslide victory.
