Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Oyo State Council said  state-owned tertiary institutions, judiciary and some Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, are yet to receive the new minimum wage.

Chairman of the council, Mr Kayode Martins stated this during the 2025 Workers Day celebration in Ibadan, on Thursday.

Martins said though Governor Seyi Makinde had approved N80,000 as minimum wage which have been paid to some workers,  the approval  requires the increment of subvention for some MDAs, state owned tertiary institutions and the judiciary for them to be able to pay the new wage.

“As we are talking, some MDAs, judiciary and state tertiary institutions are finding it difficult to pay the increment in salary, as a result of the approval of N80,000 as new minimum wage, even  retirees have not been enjoying it too.

“We want the state government and other authorities to take note  and act on it,” he said.

Martins, however, appreciated the Oyo State government for paying N80,000 minimum wage, an amount higher than the one approved by the federal government for workers.

He  said the new minimum wage is no longer enough for workers due to some policies of  government which had caused hardship. 

The chairman said the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration was to call the attention of the federal government to the hardship faced by workers and citizens in the country.

Also speaking, State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro said Nigerians are currently experiencing hardship due to the policies of the Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Olabiyi-Agoro said the organised unions in the country would not relent in fighting for the rights of workers and citizens. 

He called on government at all levels to prioritise education, welfare and protection of citizens.

Olabiyi-Agoro said the union would not act as an antagonist to the favourable policies of government and would continue to provide useful advice.

State Secretary of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Dr Olusegun Abatan commended Governor Makinde for approving the review of pension.

Abatan said the review had placed  pensioners in Oyo State as one of the highest paid  in Nigeria.

Speaking, Governor Makinde represented by his Deputy, Adebayo Lawal, pledged his commitment  to the welfare of workers  and promised not to marginalise them in the scheme of things.

Makinde, who reeled out his achievements to workers since assuming office to include prompt payment of salary, promotion among others, said government would continue to support and create a conducive environment for workers to discharge their duties effectively.

“We are committed to eliminating backlog of arrears workers and ensure that workers are given their dues,” he said. (NAN)

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru  has announced N10, 000 May Day celebration gift to  workers in the state.

Nwifuru made the disclosure at the May Day celebration in Abakaliki, on Thursday. 

The governor described the workers as the “engine room” of government and pledged his continued support to their well-being.

“According to him, I will remain indebted to  workers in the state and under my watch, they will remain a symbol of excellency.

“Today’s May Day celebration is the reflection of workers contributions to  nation building.

“I understand the challenges you face; my administration is committed to tackling them. We are committed to promoting a conducive civic space for workers.

“We must stay together as partners in progress for a better Ebonyi,” he said.

Earlier, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Professor Ogugua Egwu, and his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, Mr Chidi Igboji, in a joint address, commended Nwifuru especially on the implementation of the N75, 000 minimum wage.

On the unions demand from the governor, they expressed worry over the delay to deploy shuttle busses to the state secretariat, Centenary City.

“Workers in the state are in serious need of housing  due to the high cost of rentage in the state. Provide more housing estates for our members.

“There is the need to increase the pension of retirees as it is obtainable in other parts of the country. Equip government offices in the secretariat among others,” the organised labour union added.

FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY 

Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has increased the minimum wage for Edo State workers from N70, 000 to N75,000 to  improve their standard of living.

Okpebholo made the announcement while delivering his May Day speech at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

While appreciating the contributions of workers to the growth and development of Edo State, the governor  said his administration would always seek ways to improve the welfare of workers.

Okpebholo noted that May 1 is a special day set aside to honour the hardworking men and women who keep the state moving forward as they support their families with dignity and strength.

“Today, I am proud to announce that our administration has approved a new minimum wage of N75,000 per month for Edo workers.

“It is our way of saying thank you. We believe that this will make a real difference, and in return, we count on your renewed dedication as we build a better Edo together,” the governor said.

He stated  that the recruitment of 450 clinical and non-clinical staff for hospitals and the regularised 126 contract staff at Edo State Specialist Hospital will strengthen the health system and also improve job stability for health professionals.

The governor also   disclosed that his administration had cleared outstanding salary arrears owed  Edo State Polytechnic staff. 

He promised   timely payment of salaries and pension; steady recruitment where needed to improve service delivery; staff welfare and development and ensuring that Edo workers are treated with dignity and fairness.

Speaking, the Acting State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Bernard Egwekhide commended the governor for the  implementation of laudable policies and programmes towards alleviating the suffering and hardship faced by  workers and pensioners.

He noted that the theme, ‘Reclaiming the Civil Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,’ is apt and thought provoking, as it bordered on the very serious challenges faced by workers and the people as a result of the present day economic hardship in the country.

Egwekhide thanked the Okpebholo-led administration for taking the welfare of Edo workers  seriously and embarking on interventions that, to a great extent, enabled workers  to enjoy their civil rights.

By Uche Onyeali

National president of the National Council of Women Societies NCWS, Princess Edna Azura has reiterated her commitment to fashioning out more programmes to achieve the vision and objectives of the council.

Azura expressed the commitment while addressing guests at the official unveiling of the National Council for Women Affairs Blueprint and celebration of her 100 day in office as NCWS national president.

The Adamawa State-born women leader, who took the affairs of the umbrella body of all women organisations in Nigeria following the demise of the former national president of the council, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, in 2024, enumerated the achievements of the NCWS for Nigerian women since her assumption of office to include sensitisation programmes, campaigns and and awareness creation aimed at protection the rights of women and girls in the country.

Others include empowerment initiatives to make the women economically Self-reliant, health and education advocacy and collaboration with stakeholders and relevant organisations to strengthen vision of the council.

According to Azura, NCWS “launched the Anti-GBV, through awareness creation and ambassador clubs in secondary schools with incident registers to track gender-based violence and distributed sanitary pads to the girls; championed legislative reform advocacy, supporting House Bill 897 (Against FGM) and House Bill 401 (Widowhood Leave), and partnered with INEC to tackle political violence and marginalisation of women ahead of the 2027 elections.”

On economic empowerment, she said the council trained over 50 indigent women and widows in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on income-generating skills with starter packs and seed capital, a project she said her administration plans to scale nationwide.

“Empowered 10 women with small scale businesses with N50,000 each to help upscale their businesses during the International Women’s Day celebration.

“The council forged international partnerships with Tunisia for trade, investment, and women-led enterprise support,” she disclosed.

Among measures to attract stroñer support for the council, the NCWS president hinted that they strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, ROSOWA, WACIN – WAG, COSROPIN, CIPA, LDS Charities, among many others.

She also said the council had partnered with the University of Abuja and Nile University for research, training and women-focused development projects, adding that it also hosted a national mental health symposium titled ‘Breaking the Silence’ to address depression and suicide among women.
Princess Azura expressed gratitude to the first lady and national patron of the council, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her leadership, generosity, and nurturing spirit which she said had continue to fuel the fire of hope for millions of women across Nigeria and beyond.

She also appreciated the wife of the vice president, Hajiya Nana Shettima, for her support in executing the Renewed Hope Initiatives, RHI, of the first lady.

Other dignitaries she extended appreciation to included the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim; former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, and the director-general of the National Centre of Women Development, NCWD, for their valuable supports to the council.

In her speech at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim described Azura’s leadership of NCWS as obe with a listening ear and worthy of celebration.

She also noted that the council under Azura ignited a movement that rekindled national impact.

Congratulating Azura on hee first 100 days in office, Suleiman-Ibrahim said her administration had reignited the flame of possibility for women’s organising and national influence.