As workers in Nigeria mark another May 1 Workers Day, they have called on the Osun State Government to reciprocate the gesture of the Federal Government and increase their salaries to cushion the effects of inflation.
In order to cushion the effect of inflation, the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government recently increased the salaries of federal civil servants.
Some of the workers also lamented the suffering and untold hardship the Naira redesign policy brought on Nigerians.
For weeks, Nigerians had to endure hardships of queueing in front of bank Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, and inside banking halls.
Also, Point of Sales, POS, operators had a field day as they indiscriminately increased their service charges depending on the availability of cash.
Usman Olamide, a civil servant, while speaking to News Men, called on the state government to emulate the Federal Government and increase salaries in the state.
“One would think that by now, we would hear the announcement that Governor Ademola Adeleke has increased the salaries of civil servants in line with what President Muhammadu Buhari has done.
“Anyway, we don’t know what is in stock for us. He may decide to surprise the workers today in his Workers Day address.
“It is time Governor Adeleke did something to reflect the present realities,” he said.
Boluwatife Akindoyin, another civil servant, while appreciating the state government for deciding to pay the backlog of accumulated half salaries, asked that such move should not be politicised.
“Government is a continuum. Whatever policy the government is implementing, it should not be politicised. It is for the people and it will be a legacy that others would want to emulate because it is enduring,” she said.
Odunayo Olorunfemi, a resident lamented that the cost of goods and services in the country was soaring out of the reach of the common man.
“Sentiments apart. The federal government has done what it should do. It is now the state that should reciprocate.
“We should however give Adeleke kudos for what he has done so far. He has made workers welfare a primary focus.
“He has paid the backlog of half salaries from the Rauf Aregbesola administration. He has also continued with the prompt payment of workers salaries.
“He should now consider reinstating the 1,500 teachers that he disengaged that was recruited by the Adegboyega Oyetola administration. He should also consider reinstating the health workers recruited by his predecessor,” Olorunfemi told our correspondent.
Jimoh Olanipekun called on the government to implement both workers and citizen friendly policies so that life would be bearable and worth living for residents of the state.