The call is contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting held on Monday, June 25, 2024, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

In their 16 points communique, the forum called for strengthening of fiscal federalism and devolution of powers and expressed concern over current practices where mineral licenses are issued and explorations undertaken without recourse to State governments.

It noted that issuing mineral licenses without carrying the states along had resulted in criminal activities, attendant negative environmental impact, ecological degradation, and with no remediation commitment or revenue accruing to the states or the federal government.

The governors maintained that being the economic and industrial region of the country, there was need to address the inadequate power supply in the region by taking advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that now allows states to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity whilst also considering optional sources like renewables.

The southern governors said they had resolved to aggressively embark on energy transition plan from fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) to cleaner energy and specifically CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and ultimately EV’s (Electric Vehicles) to help reduce the cost of transportation, which would lower the cost of food, goods and services of the citizens and residents.

READ ALSO: Ogun Assembly seeks implementation of anti-open grazing law

The meeting also called on the federal government to rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer some roads to states that had expressed interest in taking them over, applauding President Tinubu for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which cuts across eight states of the region.

The communique hinted that the governors had resolved to commission a regional multimodal transport master plan that would prioritise connectivity of rail, road, air and water transportation, to facilitate interstate, intra-regional movement of persons, goods and services and thereby enhancing the ease of doing business.

It further stated that Southern States Development Agenda, SSDA, would comprise of a team whose primary responsibility would be to outline a holistic plan to foster trade and investment, sustainable growth and development, economic  prosperity, social harmony and food security for the region would be set up.

The Development Agenda, the governors added, would work hand in glove with individual State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agencies, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, and other  relevant MDA’s and multilateral agencies as necessary.

On issue of state police, the governors resolved to continue to advocate for the creation of state police against the backdrop of the success of the regional community based security outfits, which have been effective in intelligence gathering.

The governors, the communique further stated, resolved to remain united and committed to oneness of purpose, noting that the physical boundaries that divided the people of the south could not be compared to the strong bonds of enterprise, resilience and culture that they shared just as they had resolved to be deliberate and intentional about intra region trade, partnerships and investment facilitation and promotion which was agreed would require a structured and coordinated collaborative approach.

The members of the forum commended President Tinubu for the food palliative support to states and the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda pledging to support him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a greater future for all.

It would be recalled that at the end of the meeting, Prince Dapo Abiodun was chosen to provide the needed leadership as chairman of the forum, while Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State was appointed as the vice chairman.

The communique concluded that quarterly meetings of the forum would be held and rotated among member states.

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The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in company of leaders of other affiliate union, while presenting a petition on the bill said the bill was anti-labour laws and against the interest of Nigeria workers.

The bill in contention had passed first reading in the House of Representatives.

Wabba said the national minimum wage was not a Nigerian standard but an international standard , noting that 26 countries of the world had minimum wage as part of their exclusive list including the U.S.

He said the current national minimum wage was negotiated with all stakeholders including the state governments before it became law.

He said the NLC would resist any move to deny Nigerians in the state and local governments payment of minimum wage.

Responding, Deputy Chief Whip of Senate, Sen. Sabi Abdulahi (APC-Niger), said the Senate would stand with Nigerian workers as it had always done.

He said it was not possible for anyone to pass a bill that would affect the interest of Nigerian workers, given the practice of democracy in Nigeria.

Abdulahi said the Senate was representing the interest of Nigerian workers and hence took the payment of salaries of workers seriously.

He said the NLC had made their point by staging the protest, noting that the Senate would stand by the workers to protect their rights and privileges.

He said the Senate would ensure that justice was done to the petition presented by NLC on the issue.

NLC members, who besieged the National Assembly complex had some inscription like “Pay us our minimum wage, Autonomy to local government, Minimum wage payment would boost the economy” among others.

Source: NAN

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A newspaper had reported that during the last Central Working Committee and National Executive Council meeting of the NLC held in Abuja between 17 and 18 of February, 2020, Osun was mentioned among states in the country that were yet to implement the new minimum wage.

However, a statement by the state chairman of the NLC, Jacob Adekomi, described the reports as malicious and misleading, stressing that there was no time at the meeting Osun was mentioned among states that were yet to implement the minimum wage.

According to the NLC chairman, it was glaring that Osun State was among the few states in the federation that had implemented the new minimum wage.

“The media report is not only malicious but misleading because the state council of NLC was duly represented in the meeting and there was no time that states that had not started implementing minimum wage were mentioned. This is verifiable through the comminique released at the end of the NEC- in session.

“Therefore, the reports should be discarded and thrown into the dustbin because it does not emanate from the national headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress,” the statement reads in part.

Adekomi said workers in Osun appreciated Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for approving the implementation of the new minimum wage and annual salary increment for them.

“The state has moved beyond the issue of minimum wage for now and we are awaiting other largesse promised the workers via the agreements signed between the government and Joint Labour Force in the state.

“We shall continue to appreciate all the good workers in the state for their support, perseverance and commitment during the time past,” he added.

It will be recalled that Governor Oyetola in October, 2020 approved the payment of minimum wage to civil servants in the state beginning from November 1, 2020.

He also lifted the embargo on annual salary increment, promotion and conversion, which he said, was in fulfilment of his administration’s pledge to give the welfare of workers the deserved attention.

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The walk was also to say thank you for the immediate implementation of Minimum Wage, lifting of ban on Annual Salary Increment and embargo placed on promotions and conversions since 2012.

The workers, who welcomed Governor Oyetola to the state secretariat with fanfare and messages of appreciation, engaged him in a kilometre walk from the secretariat gate to the White House.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Comrade Adekomi Jacob, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress appreciated Oyetola, describing the implementation of welfare packages for all categories of workers in the state as a welcome succour for workers.

Adekomi said: “We have experienced moments of wants, but now we are being launched into a season of abundance. The year 2012 was the last time we had annual increment in the State of Osun. That was also the last year workers were promoted.

“In 2018, we had a demonstration for three days before we could be granted a nominal promotion (without pay). At some point, we were even earning half salary. But today the narrative has changed. We have received five packages without any struggle or demonstrations under the current administration.

“We are also not overlooking the fact that since the inception of this administration, we have received full salaries till this time. Before now, we were told that promotion was a privilege, but Oyetola has changed the narrative.

“We thank the workers of the State of Osun for their patience over the years. I implore workers to remain patient and cooperate with the Oyetola-led government in the State of Osun because he means well for us,” Adekomi explained.

Also speaking at the outing, Comrade Arapasopo Adejumo also thanked Governor Oyetola for delivering on his promises, adding that Oyetola had never minced words about his desires to improve the welfare of workers.

Comrade Laluwoye Adekola, who spoke on behalf of all Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the State’s Civil Service, commended Governor Oyetola for not disappointing those who trusted him.

“We have heard so much talk about the fact that people change when they get into power, but Governor Oyetola has been consistent, he has been his calm and composed yet effective and honourable self. I had worked with him before and I can attest that he has not changed,” Adekola mentioned.

In his response, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, expressed delight in the appreciation walk, describing it as an exhibition of part of the virtues of an Omoluabi, while emphasising the need to commit to greater productivity.

His words: “I am delighted by this act of appreciation put forward by workers in the state. We remain committed to the electioneering promises that we made, especially the promise of prioritising the welfare of workers.

“We are doing our part of the bargain. I implore you all to be committed to your duties. Overall, we have to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue of the State because it is what we make that we will spend. I charge you all to also help to block leakages and wastages as much as it depends on you. The development agenda of the state is a collective responsibility”, Oyetola stated.

Oyetola also enjoined workers to warn their wards not to align themselves with people or agencies who are bent on destabilising the government.

He continued: “I also want to appeal to you all to warn your wards not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction of public and private properties.

“We are at a critical stage in the state where we are calling on investors to come in and invest so that the economy of the state can improve, some people are troubling the existing ones. This is not fair on the future of the state. Let us be guided.

“We are talking to other stakeholders, like the commercial motorcycle operators, to also cooperate with the government and not allow themselves to be used to cause damage. Please talk to your wards also while we engage others,” Oyetola added.

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SSANU stated this in a statement signed by Mr Salaam Abdussobur, its National Public Relations Officer, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

It said that it was unfortunate that while workers in other sectors had started enjoying the new wage, university workers appeared to have been forgotten.

The association said the delay was unfair even after the federal government and the organised labour had concluded negotiations on the new minimum wage and the consequential adjustment, the university workers were yet to be paid the new wage.

According to the statement, the association expressed its dismay over the delay in the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage for its members and workers in the university system.

“We note that the negotiations over the National Minimum Wage was quite protracted and spanning over a period of two years.

“With the conclusion of the negotiations, it was assumed that the implementation would be seamless and require no further agitations to ensure it is equalised across all the sectors of employees.

“Unfortunately, however, months after the agreements were concluded and dusted, it seems the workers in the university system have been forgotten in the scheme of things.

“While workers in other sectors have started enjoying the increment in the salaries, the university system has not.

“Sadly, prices of goods and services immediately shot up as soon as the minimum wage was implemented in those sectors, and with the university sector still operating on the old minimum wage, thereby causing financial hardships and difficulties for our members,” the statement added.

The association said that as members were patiently waiting to be paid the new wage, there has not been any explanation from the government why the payment was delayed.

“As a consequence, our members are becoming increasingly restive and agitated over the obvious neglect of the university sector in the implementation of the national minimum wage act.

“It is sad and unfortunate that there has been no reason adduced for this delay,” it said.

SSANU therefore declared that: “We hereby draw the attention of the Federal Government and all relevant stakeholders to this delay and demand the implementation of the new wage regime and payment of its arrears without further delay.

“We have been patient enough and have shown great understanding with government on many of its policies.

“This understanding and patience should however not be at the expense or to the detriment of our welfare and incomes.

“With the situation of things, it is becoming clearer to us that except an industrial action is undertaken, the new national minimum wage may never be implemented in the university system.

“We hereby sound a note of warning to ensure the immediate payment of the minimum wage in order to guarantee industrial peace in the university system.”

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A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, confirmed that the pact was reached following a meeting between the state government’s delegation and the organized Labour.

The new minimum wage according to the agreement takes effect from January 2020.

Secretary to the Government of Oyo State (SSG), Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, who chaired the State’s Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, broke the news of the pact reached between Labour and Oyo State Government Wednesday evening.

She said: “We have just signed an agreement and the highlight of the agreement signed is that the least paid worker in Oyo State will earn over N30,000 monthly, in agreement with the minimum wage signed at the federal level.

“We also agreed with our colleagues all on the table here on the consequential adjustment required as a result of that minimum wage, which has also been agreed and reached.”

She added: “We just reached a landmark point in the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde today. In the past few weeks, you would probably have been aware that we have been negotiating based on the agreement reached at the federal level on the minimum wage and the consequential adjustment for the workers in Oyo State.

“It has been a long process because we have had to look deeply into the books and all the factors required to ensure that even as we sign this agreement today, we get an agreement that is sustainable, agreeable and affordable for the Government and the people of Oyo State.

“So, I am happy to let all of us know that an agreement has been reached. It has been a lot of discussions, suggestions and innovative ideas on how we can move Oyo State to truly become the Pacesetter State that it is meant to be in the last few weeks.”

In their joint response to the new agreement, the organized Labour expressed satisfaction with the new agreement, noting the details of the consequential adjustment appeared a good starting point, given the resources available to the state.

The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Oyo State, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, stated that the agreement reached, would see the least paid worker in the state earn N30,000 while the matter of consequential adjustment was agreed based on the financial strength of the state.

“We all looked at the books and what our state was generating monthly. The least paid worker in the state will earn N30,000 but what we regard as consequential adjustments, we cannot follow the model from the Federal Government, because we had to cut our coats according to our sizes,” he said.

He added that the agreement came after collective bargaining and due consideration for the resources available to the state to the best of the workers’ knowledge, noting that the government had also promised to meet with the organized Labour every three months to consider the state’s resources.

Titilola-Sodo, who noted that the organised Labour had trust in the governor to keep his words unlike the previous administration, which he said made similar promise but reneged, said: “I will say that we finally arrived at an agreement after a series of meetings and collective bargaining. I will not say it is the best for the state but it is a good starting point, given the resources available to the state to the best of our knowledge.

“The implementation is immediate. The government has agreed to start the implementation even from January but it will be paid in full in February and the arrears for January will be paid with March salary.”

On whether the issue of consequential adjustment might cause disagreement among the workforce, Titilola-Sodo said: “But we also agreed that we would be looking at the books regarding the earnings of the state. There is another meeting coming up in the next three months and it is our belief that the government of Governor Makinde will not be like the government of some people, who promised that we would have this kind of meeting but reneged.

“So far, Governor Makinde has not made a promise to us and failed, so this gives us the confidence that we will all sit together with the government in the next three months to look at the situation of things. We will ensure that the agreement is not in vain.”

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The presentation, the government said, explained what it can afford without going to borrow to pay salary.

The proposal includes that no worker will earn below the 30,000 minimum wage enacted by the Minimum Wage Act.

The government said it also made suggestions on the consequential adjustments as they affected the other cadres.

Said the government in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye: “Our initial proposal to the labour, which they have rejected, means that Kwara will now spend 85% of its allocation on public sector workers alone, up from the current 75%, while well over 3.450million Kwarans, will struggle with the remaining 15% per cent. This is very scary and hardly sustainable if we want to develop.

“We will continue to appeal to labour union leaders to temper their demands with the financial realities of the state which they are privy to.

“Indeed, the state government will soon make them a new offer based on the emerging realities of the state. It is important to note that the 2020 budget had been predicated on $57 per barrel of crude oil. But today the price of crude oil has fallen to $54 and that means the financial projection of the country and indeed the state has been seriously altered.

“Nonetheless, we believe that the labour union leaders and indeed the entire work force are patriotic citizens who fully appreciate the peculiar situation of Kwara at the moment. We urge the workers’ unions to kindly see reasons why we cannot afford to go borrowing to pay salary in the face of yawning infrastructural deficits and underdevelopment.”

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The directive is contained in statement jointly signed by Mr Yakubu Garba, chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterparts Yunusa Tanimu and made available to newsmen in Minna.

According to the statement, organized labour in the state had met at an emergency joint State Executive Council, SEC, on January 29 to resolve on a notice of 21 days ultimatum of strike action issued to the government on January 3, 2020.

“In compliance with the resolutions reached at the emergency joint State Executive Council, SEC, meeting of Niger State organised labour held at Labour House on Wednesday, 29th January, 2020, we write to formally inform you that all civil servants in Niger State are by this notice directed to proceed on an indefinite strike with effect from midnight February 4, 2020, ” it read.

The statement said the strike would be comprehensive and shall remain in force till the state government “demonstrate a clear and adequate commitment” to tackling lingering issues bordering on workers’ welfare.

Part of the demands of labour included the immediate implementation of the N30,000 National Minimum wage, it’s consequential adjustment and accrued arrears to all categories of workers both at the state and local government levels.

They are also calling for the immediate resumption of payment of outstanding annual leave grant for 2019 to deserving workers at both state and local government level as well as a clear commitment from the state government on pension policy in the interest of workers.

Efforts by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to get the  reaction of state Head of Service, Hajiya Salamatu Abubakar, on the matter was not successful as she was not in the office and her mobile telephone line was not going through.

Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report,  Mr Yakubu Garba, chairman of NLC in the state told NAN that the organised labour was open and  willing to meet with the government.

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He stated that once the committee set up by his government to look into the modalities for the implementation of the wage completed its assignment, the government would stand side by side with the workers to implement the decision.

The governor noted that he was looking forward to a decision that would be agreeable to the civil servants on what to earn, as well as affordable and sustainable for the state government.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor made the declarations on the minimum amount workers would earn, during the annual inter-religious service to usher in the 2020 working year, held at the Car Park of the Governor’s Office.

The governor also urged every resident of the state to join hands, put political affiliation and tribal sentiments aside to keep making Oyo State greater.

At the service, which was attended by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; the Chief of Staff, Chief Oyebisi Ilaka; the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, political appointees and civil servants, the Head of Service, Mrs. Amidat Ololade Agboola, maintained that 2019 was filled with challenges but that God had counted those in attendance at the event worthy to see a New Year.

Agboola, who welcomed political office holders and workers to the service, maintained that it was in 2019 that God blessed Oyo State with a Governor like Makinde, whom she described as God-sent to the civil servants.

According to the Head of Service, the governor had shown what leadership entailed selflessness, even as she appreciated the governor for demonstrating commitment to workers’ welfare and the repositioning of the civil/public service in the state.

She cited the payment of salaries as and when due since the administration took office, noting that the general public in the state had been sharing in happiness engendered by that act.

She also commended the governor for giving the approval for the reinstatement of some officers in the civil/public service who were unjustly dismissed by the last administration; approval for Productivity/Merit Award to recognise the hard work of civil servants and the approval of N15 million for the renovation of offices in each of the ministries in the Secretariat Complex, among other areas.

She, therefore, charged civil servants to rise to the occasion by contributing their best quota towards developing the state, calling on them to give room for innovative ideas and a new way of doing things in the New Year.

In his speech, Governor Makinde maintained that though the administration was less than a year in office, it had cause to be thankful to God, because it had continued to enjoy tremendous goodwill.

He added that his administration would not take the loyalty of the people for granted, as it would  put in its best for the good of the people of the state in the New Year.

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The governor who noted that his administration had only on Friday set up a committee to oversee the negotiation and implementation of the new minimum wage, stated that civil servants and the government were going to be reasonable on the all-important matter.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde made the disclosure during the quarterly live interview programme, Meet the Governor, on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS.

The statement added that the governor alerted the people to a number of noticeable achievements and deliverables recorded by his administration within the last 200 days, just as he informed that his administration was able to deliver so far due to prudent management of resources.

Besides, he also said that he and members of his administration had been making sacrifices, as according to him, service to the people had been of uppermost concern.

Governor Makinde stated that his government had never kept the organised Labour in the state and all stakeholders in dark over the resources accruing to the state.

He added that though the state was already aware of the cost implication of the new minimum wage, the government and the civil servants would be reasonable because they were heading in the same direction of delivering good governance and development to Oyo State.

The governor, who addressed a wide range of issues raised by the three-man panel of interviewers and residents of the states who made phone calls into the programme, said that though the government had been getting a good report about security in the state following the immense efforts of the administration in redesigning the security architecture; distribution of security vehicles and procurement of communication equipment, among other steps, it was not going to rest on its oars.

He commended the security agents saddled with the responsibility of policing the state and the people for their cooperation, noting that statistics had shown that the state had recorded the lowest crime rates in the Yuletide period.

He stated that the development was a confirmation of the fact that his administration had taken security a notch higher in the state.

He said: “On the minimum wage issue, yesterday [Friday], we set up the committee that will engage with the Nigeria Labour Congress. The truth is, if we don’t deceive ourselves, everyone will be reasonable. NLC too knows that we are open with the amount of money we are getting as federal allocation. That is why we are in harmony.

“I have told them that we are going to get the matter resolved and they keyed into that because of the sincerity of purpose and transparency, they have found in this government. In fact, we know the cost-implication of the new minimum wage and the formula the Federal Government brought out on it.

“If we adopt it without negotiating, we know the amount that will still be needed to meet up. And we also put it on the table to them to analyse if Oyo State really can meet up with the amount that will be needed aside undertaking some other development projects in the state.

“One thing I can promise the people is, this is a new government, a new dawn and there is a new thinking between government and all other stakeholders, because we are all pulling in one single direction, which is delivering good governance and development agenda.”

Governor Makinde stated that the reason his administration had been able to pay workers salaries, pensions and gratuities as and when due as well as record some other key deliverables across the four key pillars of his administration was due to the prudent management of resources and the personal sacrifices of all political office holders in the state.

He explained that among the various measures employed by the administration to effectively manage resources in order to have funds for developmental projects, he and other functionaries in the government had been using their private vehicles in the last six months, noting that that step had saved the state up to N3 billion to N4 billion, which could have been expended on vehicles.

He explained further that his administration had put an end to the era of frivolous approvals, while also giving clear-cut priorities to projects and programmes that could be embarked upon in the interest of Oyo State people.

Governor Makinde maintained that the new thinking and approach, apart from freeing up funds for the development had also contributed to raising the interest of the private sector in partnering with the government to develop the state.

He said that one of the benefits the state had derived from his style of administration was the fact that the beautification efforts on major roundabouts in Ibadan with Christmas Lighting Systems around Ibadan, the state capital was done by the private sector at no cost to the state.

He said: “It is true that when we came in, we cannot be talking about the money we met on the ground because if we do, some people won’t be allowed to walk freely in the street. If you look at it, till now, I am using my personal cars for office work. We have not also gotten cars for any of the political office holders. If we want to get that done, we will be talking about N3 billion or N4 billion. So, we stepped it down. We had to prioritise on what we think we can do for the people of Oyo State who gave us this mandate.

“We wanted to see how we can stabilise the government to suit the interest of the people first and not running after our selfish interest. We need to say this too; those that are involved should take note of this. On the 6th of May, those who worked with the past administration collected N5.2 billion and left N19,000 as of the 29th of May. Those involved will still have to explain to the people.

“That was why we had to seek the approval of the State Assembly to borrow N10 billion because I have to be honest, I was very scared. We found out that the state’s funds were in about 60 accounts. In one account, we found N300 million. In another, we found N20 million and many others like that. So, I called the Accountant-General that the monies which are in different accounts should be pulled together and, after that was done, it amounted to about N6 billion. We summoned ministries, departments, and agencies to come and give an account of what the monies were meant for. After we did that, we were able to get some money to start doing some things in the state.

“Also, our internally generated revenue has gone up a little bit because we have been able to block some loopholes of financial recklessness. Some people approached me on the way they used to go about sharing money but I shunned them.

“I want to also tell the people that the government did not spend a dime on Christmas on the street. Some people came and said they have made it a point of duty to always gift some money to the Governor every year. So, I told them not to give me anything. I asked the Commissioner for Finance to pull all the money together and look for someone that can do Christmas Decoration for the state. So, all the monies went into the beautification exercise we are seeing today. I believe that we have to continue on that path of parsimony. Until we finish expanding our economy, that is when respite can come to us all.

“Even, the civil servants know that any frivolous approval will not fly, once it gets to my table. So, that is how we have been managing with the available resources, which has made us achieve what we have on the ground now.

“If you also look at some of the projects we have awarded, contractors have cut down on the bill they charged us. When we awarded the Moniya-Iseyin road, it was for N9.9billion. The one awarded by the Federal Government was double that amount and even a palliative measure awarded on the same road was awarded by the previous administration, you know how much it was. What we are embarking on is a total reconstruction project and the contractor we gave the job to assured us that nothing will happen to the road for the next ten years. So, from all the wastages we have been cutting out, we have achieved a lot for the people. The good work has not stopped, it is extravagant spending that we have stopped.”

On the issue of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Governor Makinde maintained the committee set up by the state to negotiate with a similar committee from Osun State had been given one term of reference, to negotiate separation of ownership from Osun State, adding that he was confident that with the quality of individuals on the committee, the state would get a positive result.

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