Oyo residents disagree as Makinde dissolves councils, labour rejects staggered minimum wage

The statement directed banks and financial institutions to suspend all financial transactions with the council areas with immediate effect.But in a swift reaction, some residents said the directive was in order and that aggrieved chairmen and councilors could seek redress in court if they feel offended, while others decried the governor’s action.

A former member of Oyo State House of Assembly, Adetunji Adekunle, said the election that brought in the dissolved council chairmen was illegal and was conducted against a court order.Also speaking, a civil servant commended the governor’s decision, expressing hope that it was in the best interests of the state.

However, another council worker, who pleaded anonymity, faulted the decision, saying it was against democratic rules and appeared suspicious.“Why is the governor in a hurry to dissolve legally constituted institutions, why did he want to start his administration with controversy? He queried.

Besides, organised Labour has rejected the ‘staggered minimum wage’ being proposed by Governor Makinde, declaring it as “unconstitutional and recipe for industrial action,” warning the governor against reneging on his electoral promises. Makinde had during his inauguration speech on Wednesday said he believed the workers deserved more than N30000, but the state would pay according to available resources.

State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran, in an interview with The Guardian, said the issue of minimum wage was a constitutional matter and urged Makinde to ‘work the talk,’ saying the workers would not accept staggered payment.

Also responding, state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo, said the union was still understudying the statement, noting: “It will cross the bridge when it gets there.”

Meanwhile, Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, has announced first appointments to immediately commence his administration.Bala appointed Muhammad Sabiu Baba as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Kari as Chief of Staff to the Governor, while Bashir Yau is Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor.He has also appointed Mukhtari Mohammed Gidado as his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Umaruji Hassan as the Chief of Protocol.