ONDO State governor who is also the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 16 November 2024 governorship election, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved a minimum wage of N73,000 for civil servants in the state.
The federal government and organised labour had in September signed an agreement on the new minimum wage of N70,000 for all categories of workers in the country.
Aiyedatiwa, who was accompanied by his deputy, Chief Olayide Adelami, and top party members, announced the new wage on Saturday at the Ondo Central APC flag-off campaign at Ondo West Local Government Area of the state ahead of the off-cycle 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 in 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’ salaries and arrears.
“Our civil servants are being motivated through different training programmes, and their salaries 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 will continue to improve your welfare and advance further. By 16 November 2024, come out en masse and vote for APC,” the governor said.
Highlighting the various developmental projects embarked upon by the government for the benefit 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 the transportation of food 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 by the renovations of our primary and secondary schools and the 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 programmes for our youths to be able to be great entrepreneurs and self-reliant. In the areas of sports, we are currently renovating the Akure Sports 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-oriented programmes to secure a return to the Alagbaka Government House.
Makinde, who emphasized 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 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 per cent of votes in the election and would have a landslide victory.
Eighteen-Eleven Media