The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has expressed dismay over the inability of the Osun and Ondo State Governments to pay minimum wage to workers.
The Federal Government in October last year, approved a new minimum wage of N30, 000 for public sector workers but many State Governments have been struggling to pay the wage to their workers.
Speaking with newsmen after a Central Working Committee meeting of the association in Kano at the weekend, the President-General of SSASCGOC, Mr Muhammad Yunusa, expressed worry over the inability of Osun and Ondo States to meet their obligations to workers.
“We are aware that our members in Ondo and Osun States have not been paid for some months.
“We are not happy about it but the basic practice of this union is to engage the government of those states and see how the issues could be resolved.
“If it is something we can help them to achieve, we will also contribute. But basically, we are not happy that they are owing workers three months and seven months in Osun and Ondo States, respectively.
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“It’s very sad. These are the states we have reports from our members. So far, their governments are not able to pay the minimum wage as and when due since the wage was put in place.
“The minimum wage that the government is struggling to pay cannot serve the purpose for which it was intended. However, we will still encourage Nigerian workers to continue giving their best because it is worth more than being jobless.”
The unionist also expressed his concern on the current insecurity in the country, calling on the Federal Government to redouble efforts to make the nation safe.
“The insecurity affects our members to move from one location to another because today in Nigeria nobody is safe at all.
“It affects our output and productivity and it is productivity that creates wealth,” said Yunusa.
He appealed to the federal and State Governments to reduce the huge cost of governance to improve the living condition of Nigerians.
“We need to reduce the cost of governance and save money to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
“The way things are now in the country, nobody can say he is happy with the economic position of Nigeria.” (NAN)