Great Ogun State Workers!
Greater Ogun State Workers!!
Greatest, Ever-Dedicated Ogun State Workers!!!
Happy May Day to all Nigerian workers!
On behalf of the dedicated members of the Trade Union Congress, Ogun State Council, I extend heartfelt greetings from the national leadership of the Congress, led by Comrade (Engineer) Festus Osifo, who was re-elected for a second term in office just last week.
Today, as we celebrate May Day, I would like to acknowledge Your Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, the entire “Rebuilding Our Future” team, and the hardworking individuals of Ogun State, especially our dedicated workforce.
We equally express our gratitude to God that we are again gathered to celebrate our day despite the labour community’s numerous challenges. This day symbolises our resistance to all forms of oppression and unethical practices while also allowing us to recognise positive developments that have enhanced our standard of living.
Your Excellency, Nigeria is undoubtedly experiencing difficult times. I commend you and others for your efforts to restore the country during this critical period.
This year’s May Day theme, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship,” is particularly relevant to Nigerian workers, given the nation’s current economic instability.
As workers, we face numerous challenges in this economic climate, including hyper-rising living costs, stagnant wages, and job insecurity. Additionally, we have limited access to essential social services such as healthcare, education, and other social welfare programmes.
To reclaim our civic space and foster an environment that promotes social justice, we urge the government to protect workers’ fundamental rights. It is essential to shape our economic future and encourage social dialogue through collective bargaining and the right of workers to participate in decision-making processes.
By reclaiming civic space, we can build a more just and equitable society in which workers’ rights are respected and their contributions are valued.
*THE NATIONAL NEW MINIMUM WAGE OF #70,000*
Increasing the national minimum wage is intended to lift workers out of poverty; however, there is little to celebrate because the national new minimum wage is still grossly inadequate and does not align with current economic realities.
A significant consequence of the wage increase is the rise in fuel prices resulting from removing subsidies. This has led to higher costs for transportation, food, and essential services.
We urge employers of labour to consider providing transportation stipends or fuel allowances, especially for lower-wage employees.
*SECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY*
Nigeria has experienced an unprecedented level of insecurity, including activities by Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping, and conflicts involving Fulani herders. These issues have resulted in widespread fear, displacement, and loss of life and property. Workers are not immune to these challenges; their safety and security are essential for their productivity and well-being.
We urge the federal government, which oversees our security apparatus, to review the nation’s security laws. Making Nigeria safe for all citizens and residents is crucial.
We commend Your Excellency for recruiting an additional 500 personnel for the Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps to strengthen the State’s security framework.
*Increase in Telecom and Electricity Tariffs*
The recent 50% increase in telecom and electricity tariffs, implemented without incentives such as weekend or midnight free calling services, has worsened inflation and economic hardship for ordinary Nigerians. This increase in electricity rates places an additional burden on citizens who are already struggling, as they do not receive commensurate services in return.
This situation represents a clear threat to the welfare of Nigerian workers, as the rising costs hinder learning and research in educational institutions.
The Federal Government must take immediate action to reverse this trend or provide incentives to alleviate the burden on the citizens.
*OGUN STATE PUBLIC SERVICE*
Distinguished Comrades, we want to seize this opportunity to appreciate the government of Ogun State under the leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON.
Under your leadership, we commend the Ogun State government for consistently supporting public servants and retirees. Your Excellency, through your character and leadership, have introduced several unexpected interventions to ensure industrial stability in the state over the past year. These include:
* Prompt and regular payment of salaries along with cooperative deductions.
*Continuous payment of monthly pensions, with the minimum pension increasing from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 and later to ₦30,000
*The initial one-day off work, later expanded to two days per week and Improved car refurbishment loan – a demonstration of your commitment to workers’ welfare
*Consistent payment of Christmas/New Year bonuses in December, ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦100,000, which has provided a gesture that has renewed faith in the government
*Sales of rice at discounted prices to public servants and retirees
*Launch of a public sector Health Insurance Scheme
*Implementation of the ₦77,000 new minimum wage, surpassing the Federal Government’s ₦70,000 national minimum wage
*Adoption of the National Council on Establishment Matters resolution to implement a new entry point for Nurses and Engineers at grade level 10
*Provision of quality training and seminars to enhance professional development for public servants, including permanent secretaries, principals-general, general managers, and other top echelons of government MDAs
*Establishing a Joint Special Task Force involving labour to monitor the activities of filling stations over sharp practices. This move protected workers from crude extortion. The payment for the pump price must be commensurate with the volume of the product.
We also appreciate your Excellency in clearing the backlog of remittances for the National Housing Scheme, allowing workers to access mortgage loans to acquire their own homes. Sir, when the Head of Service conveyed this sheering news to us, we were highly elated, and we appreciate your Excellency immensely because access to housing funds is very key for our Civil Servants
We assure you that this continued display of kindness will inspire our colleagues to contribute even more towards achieving outstanding progress for our beloved state.
*CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME*
Your Excellency, as the effective date of July 1, 2025, for the dysfunctional Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) approaches – is less than 60 days away, as expected, there are very significant concerns around the scheme given its haphazard implementation. To this effect, Public Servants in Ogun State unanimously oppose the scheme’s implementation. We urge the government to listen to our demand for immediate and total suspension of further deductions from workers’ salaries because we expect more in terms of commitment to administering the scheme faithfully since its inception. We expect a total commitment to the CPS law as the failure to remit funds deducted to the Pension Fund Custodians through the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) within seven days is a serious offence under CPS law.
We propose either temporarily returning public servants to the old scheme or commencing the implementation in the year when the scheme began.
Alternatively, the implementation could be postponed for full implementation when the government is better prepared to finance adequately as contained in the Ogun State pension reform law (amended in 2013)
The scheme has faced challenges since its inception in 2008, which was why it was amended in 2013. Many public servants who have retired voluntarily for various reasons have had their files and records of service neglected by the Bureau of State Pensions. This group of retirees lacks hope for pension, gratuity, or a secured future.
We need an official declaration regarding voluntary retirement and urge a review of the scheme to ensure that the workers’ retirement lives are not jeopardised.
*PENSIONS, GRATUITY AND LEAVE ALLOWANCE*
We commend the government for consistently paying pensions on or before the 31st of each month and increasing quarterly gratuity payments from ₦500 million to ₦600 million, then to ₦2 billion quarterly. We also appreciate the release of ₦5.3 billion on September 16, 2024, which brings the total payment to ₦9.3 billion to offset part of the outstanding gratuity in 2024.
On April 15th, 2025, Your Excellency further approved the release of ₦6.7 billion to pay outstanding gratuities to Public Service retirees and the 20 local governments in the state. The N3.2 billion released for the State retirees and the N3.4 billion released for the Local Government retirees through the Joint Allocation Account Committee in the first quarter of this year, 2025, has no doubt underscored the commitment of the State Government to the welfare of retirees and this decision has further reduced the backlog of accrued gratuities.
If the previous government had started remitting at least ₦500 million quarterly as your government has done, the backlog could have been either entirely eliminated or significantly reduced by
now.
We commend the government for beginning to pay leave allowances monthly since January 2023, which workers had not received for the past eight years. We urge that a significant amount be allocated to address the backlog of statutory leave allowances from 2015 to 2022, as many beneficiaries are now senior citizens.
The government is appreciated for its compassion towards the senior citizens.
*Ogun State Health Insurance*
Your Excellency, we are grateful for the opportunity to benefit from governance during these challenging economic times. We particularly appreciate the government’s commitment to covering 50% of the insurance premium for public servants.
However, we must voice our dissatisfaction regarding the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency’s decision to breach the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with them. The MoU stipulates that 50% of the monthly premium should be deducted from public servants’ salaries. Specifically, the agency has repeatedly deducted ₦1,500 from each worker’s salary in March and April without consulting the leadership. We have decided to report this action of the Agency to the Office of the Head of Service, and we are using this opportunity to bring it to our attention. This action contradicts the MoU, which states that both parties must document and sign any written amendments or modifications.
This laudable programme must be guarded jealously, and we appreciate the State Government for the formal sector launching during the year 2024 Public Service Week.
THE YEAR 2023 AND 2024 *PROMOTION EXERCISES*
We commend Your Excellency for approving the conduct of the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises. This decision has renewed the hope and aspirations of public and civil servants in our state.
We take solace in Your Excellency’s official announcement that promotion letters with attendant financial benefits will be released today in the spirit of celebration. Your uncommon benevolence and compassion are truly appreciated.
We also want to express our gratitude for conducting a promotion exercise that covers seven years within your six years of administration. This is a significant achievement, and we sincerely appreciate it.
*Payment of 24 Months of Outstanding Cooperative Deductions*
During last year’s celebration, labour requested the release of 24 months of outstanding cooperative deductions. We are pleased that the government has paid the arrears of cooperative deductions, fulfilling its promise to restore the vitality of cooperative societies by addressing these deductions.
The continuous monthly payment of this deduction has positively impacted workers’ lives in Ogun State, promoting financial stability, increasing economic activity, and improving living standards.
Your Excellency deserves commendation for resolving some of the contentious issues we raised with the government during last year’s celebration.
*APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPALS-GENERAL*
Teachers have expressed appreciation for appointing the Principals-General/Headmasters-General as promised during your campaign. However, the sector is now awaiting your ascent on the bill passed by the Ogun State House of Assembly.
This approval is necessary to formally establish the appointments along with their clearly defined functions and responsibilities.
THE MINIMUM WAGE TABLE
Your Excellency, this is to once again appreciate your swift movement towards implementing the minimum wage for Public servants in Ogun State. We are pleased to note that Ogun State remains one of the early implementors of the new wage, and the wage of N77,000 is very much appreciated
However, we wish to note that implementing the new minimum wage of ₦77,000 has not been consistently applied across all grade levels. We recently called the attention of the Secretary to the State Government to it, and we have no doubt that he will take a cursory look at the table with the Head of Service and the Ministry of Finance.
Your Excellency, we absolutely trust your disposition to workers’ welfare. Kindly request that the new minimum wage of ₦77,000 be implemented across all grade levels. At the same time, you should also mandate the Bureau of State Pension to consider adjusting pension allowances for retirees in line with the 2019 Federal Government circular on consequential adjustment of pensions. We wish to recall that a Committee was set up in 2022 to look into the issue of consequential adjustment of the salaries of pensioners, and the report of that Committee should be looked into.
We believe that, like the ripple effects of a fish in water determine its weight, your intellectual capabilities and gracious leadership can ensure that Ogun State continues to be a leader in the welfare of workers and retirees.
EMPLOYMENT AND JOB CREATION*
Your government’s efforts to attract local and foreign investors to our dear state to create employment opportunities and enhance economic prosperity are highly commendable.
We urge your government to monitor the activities of these investors so that they do not enslave citizens of the state in our own father’s land.
Apart from evading taxes, many engaged in unfair labour practices such as casualisation, underpayment, poor working conditions and safety practices, denial of workers’ right to freedom of association, and other anti-labour practices.
Some workers earn as little as 40,000 in some of these companies, with no conditions of service, medicare, or pension, in the name of casualisation or contract staff because these companies do not allow workers to unionise.
Comrades, permit me to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Governor and the wonderful people of Ogun State, particularly the Organized Labour, on the emergence of one of our distinguished sons, Comrade Ambassador Dr Samsudeen Adebayo Apelogun, who has been elected as Trustee III at the recently concluded 1st Quadrennial Delegate Conference of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. His election adds to the impressive list of three other indigenes of Ogun State: Comrade Soji Oluwole, Deputy President II; Comrade Kayode Alakija, Deputy President IV; and Comrade Babatunde Alamutu, PRO, who were re-elected as members of the National Administrative Council (NAC) for a second term.
Prince Adebayo Apelogun’s election is particularly timely, and we believe it will further strengthen the bond between the government and the labour movement in Ogun State.
As we celebrate this achievement, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prince Apelogun on his new role, and we express our appreciation for Your Excellency’s leadership in fostering an environment that allows our citizens to thrive.
*A WORD FOR OGUN STATE WORKERS*
Great Ogun State Workers!
You are looking up to labour unions to address issues beyond your control. You desire lower prices for goods and services, job security, and good governance. You need a living wage to meet your basic necessities, some of which are beyond the influence of labour.
It’s an undeniable truth that our take-home pay has left us stranded on our journey to a better life. The purchasing power of our salaries has significantly diminished. However, the recent media interaction between labour leaders and His Excellency has given us hope that the future is bright for the workforce in the state.
Comrades, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and salute you for your resilience, dedication, and solidarity in our nation’s most trying times. Let us view our individual and collective sacrifices as contributions to our country’s development and growth. We will continue to engage with the government to address the pressing issues affecting our welfare.
As we celebrate Workers’ Day today, we demand that the government at all levels take urgent steps to address the economic hardships, insecurity, and social injustices workers face. We urge them to respond to the specific requests we have made today.
God bless Nigerian Workers!
God bless Ogun State!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
