By Francis Ogwo
Ekiti State Government and organised labour have agreed to a meeting point on the percentage increase on consequential adjustment in workers’ salary in compliance with the new N30,000 minimum wage.
This was a fallout of a deal was reached on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti after botched meetings between government and organized labor.
A communique jointly signed by the government negotiation team and representatives of the organised labour in the state issued at the end of the meeting showed an agreement for an adjustment of the salaries of officers in the civil service.
The Head of Service, Mrs ‘Peju Babafemi, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Oluyemi Esan and Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and Service Matters, Mr Bayo Opeyemi, signed on behalf of government while the Chairman Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Kayode Fatomiluyi; Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo; Chairman NLC, Comrade Kolapo Olatunde; NLC Secretary, Comrade Akinyemi Taiwo; Chairman Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Sola Adegun; and Secretary, Comrade Lawrence Kulogun, signed on behalf of Labour.
The agreement provides that, the core civil servants on grade level 7 are to get 23.2% adjustment; grade level 8 (20%); grade level 9 (19%); grade levels 10 to14 (16%); and grade levels 15 to 17, (14%).
Health workers in the state on grade level 01 to 04 will be given 23.2%, grade level 05-07 (16%), grade level 08-14 (12%) and grade level 15-17 (7%).
More details from the communique added that adjustment for workers on grade level 13-17 will be implemented by the government based on the recommendation of the Economic Review Committee which will comprise labour and government representatives as federal allocation improves, while implementation for officers on grade level 07-12 will commerce by January 2021.
The deal also agreed that government would not retrench, victimize or intimidate any worker as a result of the implementation and no labour leader would be penalized or sanctioned over roles played in the course of the negotiations.
“It was jointly signed that this agreement has brought to an end the agitation on minimum wage and consequential adjustment for officers on GL 01-12 and shall be implemented for officers on GL13 and above without prejudice.
“That the implementation of the minimum wage and consequential adjustment for officers on GL 07 to GL 12 in the civil service, local government, judiciary and health workers would commence by January, 2021.
In her remarks, the Head of Service, Mrs ‘Peju Babafemi expressed profound gratitude to the Government for creating a conductive and peaceful environment for Ekiti Workers.
According to Babafemi, Ekiti is blessed with cerebral, hardworking and diligent officers in the public service who are ready to deliver on the agenda of government to the people of the state.
“I want to assure the workers that the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi is committed to their wellbeing. On this note, I urge all our workers to continue to put in their best,” she added.
The Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Kayode Fatomiluyi, speaking on behalf of Labour, was of the view that the journey towards signing the agreement was a tedious one.
Recall that organized labor had pledged war with any state that does not comply with the new minimum wage which is seen as one way to help maintain survival of workers in the country amidst harsh economic downturns.
