Minimum wage: Sanwo-Olu promises to pay above N30,000

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that the state was ‘technically’ ready to pay the N30,000 minimum wage, reinterating his promise to pay above N30,000 to Lagos workers because of the special status of the state.

This assurance is coming just as he sued for continued harmonious and peaceful relationship between government and Labour Unions in the state.

Sanwo-Olu spoke when he hosted members of Lagos State Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

He also charged the Labour leaders to key into government’s agenda on the environment, as well as partner government in sensitizing members on need to have positive attitude on environmental issues.

Chairman, Lagos State Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Razaq Falade commended Sanwo-Olu for making the welfare of workers a priority.

Falade called for prompt implementation of the minimum wage to reduce poverty among workers, saying that in two weeks time, the proposed consequential adjustments on the wage issue would be forwarded by the NJC to the Governor.

Earlier in a separate interaction, NLC Chairperson, Lagos Council, Funmi Sessi and TUC Chairman, Lagos Council, Gbenga Ekundayo, requested improved welfare package for workers which included insurance policy, Local and International Training, free social services for Senior citizens and operational buses for affiliate union members of the unions for easy mobility.

However, Sanwo-Olu promised to look into Labour’s requests for relevant Training to improve their skills, while the union leaders assured government of their support for a greater Lagos.