Oyo State Government has signed an agreement with the Joint Action Committee of all the state owned tertiary institutions to commence payment of the new minimum wage in line with the directives of the Salaries and Wages Commission.
Addressing stakeholders from across the state owned tertiary institutions, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye said Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration is workers–friendly, in terms of prompt payment of salary among others.
Barrister Olaleye described the agreement as another landmark achievement of the Seyi Makinde-led administration, noting that civil servants in the state have been enjoying it since last year and it is not extended to the state owned tertiary institutions.
The Commissioner added that the minimum wage will be paid to tertiary institutions workers in arrears since January last year when other civil servants have been enjoying it.
He appreciated Governor Makinde for affirming for the umpteenth time that he runs a workers’ friendly government.
Reacting on the gesture of the government, the chairman of JAC, Comrade Segun Oyewumi, who narrated the struggle of the union before they got attention of the union, commended Governor Makinde for setting up a committee to negotiate with JAC on behalf of the state government on how to implement payment of the new minimum wage for the state owned tertiary institutions which other workers in the state have been enjoying since January last year.
He expressed belief that members of the union in tertiary institutions across Oyo State will soon start to benefit from the agreement signed.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Polytechnic Ibadan, Professor Adekunle Akinyemi said the agreement signed meant a lot to workers of tertiary institutions, describing the event as a plus for the government.
Other stakeholders at the event also commended the state government for making workers’ welfare its priority.
Joint Action Committee (JAC) members consist of both academic and non-academic workers of the Oyo state government-owned tertiary institutions.