The Lagos government has received praise from the Nigeria Labour Congress for the anticipated pay raises for state employees.
The praise was given by the NLC Chairman, Mrs. Funmi Sessi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
The announcement, she noted, “came at the appropriate time.”
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Oct. 4 had announced the increase at a meeting with civil servants of the state public service, during a business visit to the state secretariat, Alausa.
”He said the planned increment is informed by the level of inflation in the country, which has been biting hard on the citizens.
The governor, however, did not mention the percentage of the increment and when it would kick off, but that modalities were being worked out.
Sessi said: ‘’If we have to look at the motive behind the increment, it is a well thought out planned increase.
‘’Though, in the agreement that we signed during the 2016 new minimum wage, it was stated that after three years, we will review the wage.
‘’However, because of the covid-19 pandemic, we could not do anything, yet, after covid-19, we could see the escalation of everything.
‘’The public sector workers are so appreciative; we welcome this magnanimous extension of goodies from the governor.
‘’Although, we do not know to what percentage the governor is going to increase the salary by, yet the workers are sure that he will do what will bring a standing ovation from the workers.’’
She asked labour firms to follow the governor’s lead and make sure that their workers received fair pay in light of the high cost of living in the current economy.
‘’Those in the private sector including schools, manufacturing, health, and other sectors, the employers should be able to add palliatives to what the workers are earning, because of the high cost of living.
Sessi advised the employees to work with the state governor and make sure they put in more effort to create the kind of state that everyone wanted.
She said: ‘’To whom much is given, much is expected; if the governor is doing so much to ensure that our welfare is well taken care of, we should be ready to cooperate and do more.
‘’We already cooperate with the governor, but we are going to go the extra length to do more.’’
