Delta State workers expressed their dissatisfaction on Wednesday as they booed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his failure to address the issue of minimum wage in his speech.
Anticipating an announcement regarding a new minimum wage, the workers became upset when the governor concluded his address without mentioning it.
While the workers interrupted the governor with a chant of “no, no, no, we no gree, pay us our minimum wage,” Oborevwori, however, insisted that the workers cannot cajole him to pay the minimum wage.
The 2024 May Day celebration, themed, “People First,” was a carnival-like celebration in the state and featured a march past by the various affiliate unions in the state. But the governor’s address in Asaba was marred with disruptive noise from the workers, who were disappointed by the governor’s failure to make a statement over the minimum wage matter.
According to one of the union leaders, they had earlier discussed the matter with the governor; unfortunately, all attempts to make him understand them failed.
“Listen to me, listen to me, calm down, calm down, you cannot cajole me,” the governor insisted.
Meanwhile, Governor Oborevwori announced plans to establish a committee to address workers’ requests for salary raises, citing the ongoing economic challenges in the nation.
He praised the state’s workers for their backing during his administration’s inception and highlighted the existing industrial peace across the region.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers, he pledged to investigate cases of employees inadvertently left out from receiving promotion arrears.
“I have listened attentively to your requests and I have taken note of them; they are, no doubt, legitimate demands and as a responsible government, I will deliberate with my team on how best to address them within the limits of the resources available to us,” he said.
In an address delivered by Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, he said: “We want promise keeper politicians because, as workers, we keep records of promises.”
