The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said that Edo State is a reference point for good governance, News About Nigeria reports.
The President of the Union, Comrade Festus Osifo, stated this while speaking during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House in Benin City.
He lauded the governor, Godwin Obaseki, for increasing workers’ minimum wages to N70,000, stating that it is the highest in the country.
He noted that the present administration has achieved a lot in the last seven and a half years and has prioritised the welfare of workers in the state, including prompt payment of pensions and salaries.
According to Osifo, the governor has taken Edo to enviable heights.
“What we normally do is to check their records if they are good and have performed well, but if the records are not good, we don’t go because we could easily be blackmailed that a government that is not doing well wants to use us as if it is doing well, especially when it concerns the plight of workers.
“We are here to tell you thank you for some of the things you have done for workers in Edo State. Starting from the fact that just recently, on April 29, you invited us to commission a very befitting secretariat for the labour movement in Nigeria. On that day, clearly everybody who came to that event will attest to the fact that it is one of the best.
“In fact, that is the best secretariat we have in Nigeria. That day, you surprised us by announcing a raise of the minimum wage for workers in the state from N40,000 to N70,000. It was something that is worthwhile because you know we are still battling with the issue around minimum wage. Whenever we have these conversations, Edo State is always a reference point,” he stated.
Osifo further stated that it is rather unfortunate that other states are yet to toll the same line. Instead, they are all waiting for the federal government to increase the minimum wage while they try to implement it.
