An Ibadan opinion leader, Lekan Balogun, has commended the Oyo State workers for their resolve not to go on strike as earlier threatened over the minimum wage.
The workers, under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), held a congress at the weekend to discuss the intervention by eminent citizens of the state over the issue of the N18,000 new minimum wage, and agreed to suspend their plan to commence strike today (Monday).
Shortly before the end of his tenure, the immediate past governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, had approved the new minimum wage and signed it into law.
He also told the workers that the state government headed by Abiola Ajimobi will implement the new pay regime as soon as he comes into power.
But, Mr Ajimobi, on assumption of office, told the workers that the current income of the state would not support the pay. He, instead, offered to increase the workers' pay to meet with that of the highest paying state in the Southwest, reiterating his interest in raising the standard of living of workers.
State chairman of the congress, Bashiru Olanrewaju, appealed to members at the weekend and made them see why they had to wait till further negotiations are made with the government before making up their minds on the strike.
Matured workers
Mr Balogun said the decision of the workers is a reflection of their high level of maturity.
While calling on the state government to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that living wages are paid to workers, he opined that committing about 80-90 percent of the state's resources to salaries every month will not augur well for the state.
"There is no way the state can progress with the commitment of about 80-90 percent of the total revenue of the state to the payment of workers salary and there is no way the state can progress with ill-motivated workers which is why I said there should be more dialogue to arrive at a middle level approach for the benefit of all and sundry," he said.
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