The Nigeria Labour Congress, Ondo State chapter, has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to implement a price control system to curb rising food cost in the state.

The state chairman of the NLC, Ademola Olapade, made the call at the 2025 May Day celebration held on Thursday in Akure, the state capital.

Mr Olapade, who decried the hard economic condition in the nation, also said the ballooning living cost and striking economy was taking its toll on the workers of the state.

He explained that the rising costs of essential commodities, most importantly transportation and housing, have worsened the situation for workers.

He stated, “Your Excellency, we are not oblivious of the harsh economic realities confronting Nigerians today. The rising cost in essential commodities, transportation, housing, and basic services has further eroded the purchasing power of workers. We therefore urge the Ondo State government to design and implement a functional price control mechanism to check the spiralling costs of goods and services.’’

He also appealed to the governor to cushion the effects of the hardship with intervention programmes not just for the civil servants in the state but the entire populace.

Mr Olapade also commended the governor for the implementation and payment of N73,000 as minimum wage to workers in the state, adding that the pay surpasses the N70,000 benchmark announced by the federal government.

Also, the state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Clement Fatuase, hailed the governor for his support to the state workers.

Mr Fatuase, however, faulted the planned demolition of some government quarters being occupied by workers in the state, noting that it would worsen hardship on the workforce.

“Information has it that the state government is planning to demolish all quarters occupied by productive workers of Ondo State. If that is true, we say categorically that we totally reject this as it will further bring hardship into our already tense economy. We therefore suggest that the quarters should be renovated for good use of workers to alleviate their suffering and improve productivity.

“Going forward, we further plead that Mr. Governor should make plots of land available at affordable prices for workers of Ondo State by engaging the State Property and Development Company,” he said.

In his speech, Mr Aiyedatiwa assured that his administration would not play politics with the welfare of workers in the state.

The governor also said his government would continue to patronise and make the welfare of workers in the state a top priority.

Mr Aiyedatiwa hailed the resilience, commitment, and integrity of the state workers, observing that they had been central to the successes recorded under his administration.

He also described the workers as the driving force behind the economic growth and development of the state.

“As we continue in the journey of our administration, I want our workers to rest assured of the patronage and protection of the state government. We shall not sacrifice the welfare of our workers on the altar of politics. Our administration will always strive within the limits of its resources to ensure that workers’ welfare is given priority consideration,” he said.

Highlighting the list of interventions for workers being carried out by his administration, Mr Aiyedatiwa noted that the government was among the states that had been paying the new minimum wage.

He added that the state did not only adopt the N70,000 benchmark by the federal government but also increased the state’s minimum wage to N73,000.

Explaining that retirees in the state now receive a monthly pension award of N30,000, the governor said that his administration now focuses on career growth, with promotions up-to-date and the 2025 exercise already underway.

“Our modest gains in office have only been possible because of your hard work across all sectors. From schools and hospitals to ministries and agencies, you are the true engine of governance,” Mr Aiyedatiwa said.