FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Workers at the Edo State House of Assembly under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, on Tuesday protested the non-implementation of the new minimum wage by the state government.
The angry workers, who wore black dresses, staged the protest barely 24 hours after the state lawmakers organised a reception to appreciate them for their support in the last two years.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that former Governor Godwin Obaseki had on April 29, 2024, announced an upward review of minimum wage in the state from N40,000 to N70,000, which was also increased to N75,000 by Governor Monday Okpebholo on May 1.
While it could not be confirmed if the latest increment has been received by state civil servants, it is however on record that Obaseki implemented the N70,000 minimum wage effective May 1, 2024.
An insider disclosed that the workers at a meeting last Friday resolved to wear black dresses to the office as part of a protest against the non-implementation of the minimum wage.
The source added that at last week’s meeting, they resolved to issue a 21-day strike notice to the leadership of the House, beginning from Monday, June 16.
According to them, more than a year after the approval of the N70,000 minimum wage, they are yet to receive it, whereas staff of other government ministries, agencies and departments have started enjoying the new wages, let alone the additional N5,000 minimum wage by Governor Okpebholo.
It was gathered that the staff are agitating over the non-implementation of CONLESS, a new special salary scheme for staff of Houses of Assembly nationwide, following the financial autonomy granted them by the federal government.
They are angered that after being involved in the fight for the legislature to have financial autonomy, they were left in the lurch, as they are now being denied what is due to them.
Meanwhile, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku had, during the reception for the workers on June 16, commended them for their supportive role since their formal inauguration as lawmakers. He assured them that their interests and welfare are paramount to them.
The speaker, who acknowledged that there are some agitations by the workers, however, described it as a non-issue, assuring that the leadership of the House would resolve the matter.
