Labour unions in Ekiti have rejected the withdrawal of the new minimum wage and the “consequential adjustment” by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The organised labour, which comprises the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Joint Negotiating Committee, met Mr Fayemi in a closed-door meeting.

In a statement signed by the NLC Chairman, Kolapo Olatunde, TUC Chairman, Sola Adigun, and JNC Chairman Kayode Fatomiluyi, after the meeting, the unions condemned any attempt to further impoverish workers and all vulnerable groups in Ekiti.

“We met with Governor Fayemi on Monday on the state of the economy, and the position of the entire workforce was made known to him.

“The workers of Ekiti reject any withdrawal of minimum wage and consequential adjustment payment by the state which is a product of a process that has been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“In the same vein, the labour movement rejects any stoppage of subvention to all educational institutions in Ekiti, as proposed. We viewed any attempt under any guise to further impoverish the living standard of workers and all vulnerable groups in Ekiti state as inhuman and unacceptable,” said the statement.

In January, the Ekiti government announced that it would implement the minimum wage and consequential adjustment for workers in the state’s workforce.

The announcement followed a meeting the government had with the organised labour.

The government said the implementation of the consequential adjustment would commence immediately.

It said it would review the salaries of workers in the state upward based on the recommendations of the economic review committee.

The government also agreed not to sack, victimise or intimidate any worker due to the implementation.

The organised labour gave Mr Fayemi until May 1 to pay all outstanding salaries of workers in the state.

(NAN)