BY LAJA THOMAS
THE Ogun State Government has increased the minimum wage of its workers from N9, 373.00 to N14, 258.00, representing an increase of 52%. According to a statement by the Ogun state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Sina Kawonise Wednesday, said, “the new salary will cost the State Government an additional N450 million increase on its monthly wage bill. It will take effect from January 1st, 2011 and cuts across Grade Levels 01 to 17.

The Commissioner said the Otunba Gbenga Daniel – led Administration took the decision to consolidate its commitment to the well-being and welfare of its workforce which had demonstrated loyalty, exceptional understanding and support towards achieving the set goals of the OGD- led Administration in the last eight years.

The Administration on assumption of office, cleared the backlog of three years promotion of Civil Servants and had since made it a standing policy to carry out promotion exercises every year for deserving Civil Servants.

Equally, in-service training of workers which hitherto was embargoed was reactivated by the Administration with a monthly vote of N3M for training and re-training of all categories of workers in the state public service, aside from providing enabling working environment culminating in the construction of   a four block purposely built new Secretariat complex at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Government has also employed over 10,000 Civil Servants in the State Civil Service and another 10,000 into the State Teaching Service, while an additional 100,000 employments were generated directly and indirectly, in the informal sector through the Ogun State Employment Generation Programme (OGEGEP) and Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA).

The statement enjoined workers in the State Public Service to reciprocate Government’s gesture through continued dedication and support for government policies and programmes.

Meanwhile the State’s chapter of Nigerian Labor Congress, NLC and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has described the salary increment as a welcome development saying the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration should be commended for the gesture.