Ondo State needs N45 billion to pay the new N30, 000 minimum wage to its workers, it has been learnt.
This represents 20 percent increase in the current wage bill of workers in the state which stands at about N36 billion.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan declared this in an interview, saying:”The minimum wage which our workers rightly deserve will increase our wage burden between 18 and 20 percent on monthly basis when implemented.”
He said that the state government needs additional N9 billion to meet up with the payment annually.
His words: In terms of naira and kobo, we are talking about a wage bill from about N36 billion on yearly basis to about N45 billion when fully implemented”.
Igbasan however called for the review of the present revenue sharing formula that will give more money to the states and local governments, saying development come from the grassroots.
He said in a situation where the Federal Government gets 52 percent of the revenues from the federation account is unfair, calling on the Federal Government to see the need for the review of the sharing formula in favour of state and local governments.
Igbasan said the Federal Government has put so many things in her purview which it is unable to manage effectively like primary health care.
“I have said it at different fora, for state governments to be able to conveniently pay the new minimum wage without downsizing, right sizing or owing workers salaries, something needs to be done to the revenue sharing formula.
“There are so many things that the Federal Government has taken upon itself which are not effective because it is not within its purview to do so.
“Federal Government should give out part of what it has now. The kind of structure we have is too centralised and most of these health facilities are domesticated at the grassroots level. They should give more power to the state and local governments to handle what are domiciled within their territories.”
Igbasan observed that it is even difficult for the Federal Government to implement the N30,000 minimum wage despite its huge share in the revenue from the federation account.
The commissioner puts the total number of civil servants in the state, including that of local governments at 72,985 and pensioners at 22, 253.
He indicated the possibility of an increase in the number of workers in the state as a result of the newly recruited workers in the health and other sectors and assured that as soon as the coast is clear, workers in the state will enjoy the new minimum wage.
He affirmed that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will not downsize the workforce but create an efficient workforce that will drive productivity and efficient administration.
He said: “He is a governor that I know very well, he has said it several times that he is not interested in sending anybody packing before his retirement age. You can even see the demonstration of that in all MDAs that were allowed to complete their terms before they were disengaged.”
On the recently approved N50 billion bond, Igbasan said the process is ongoing as the state is yet to receive it, adding that it will be utilised before the end of the year to fast track massive infrastructural development across the state.
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