A group, Edo Salvation (ESG) has justified the organised Trade Union in Edo’s endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo for Saturday’s governorship election.
A statement on Sunday by its national Coordinator, Mr Immam Ekpe, said the endorsement was not unconnected with the impressive relationship between outgoing Gov. Godwin Obaseki and the unions.
Ekpe said that workers in the state under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had a rally on Friday at the Government House asking workers in the state to vote for Ighodalo.
He explained that this would enable the candidate if voted to continue with the good welfare and industrial relations with Obaseki.
“We noted that Obaseki has been proactive in considering the welfare of workers as Edo became the first state in the country to implement a minimum wage of N70,000.
“That was in May well before the workers even entered into full negotiation with the Federal Government.
“The new wage is being paid promptly on the 26th of every month at a time that many other states are not even paying the N30,000 minimum wage.
“ Obaseki has been setting aside N200 million monthly for the payment of gratuities for workers who retired during the period of former governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his predecessors.
“It is on this note that the two labour centres without coercion took their fate in their hands to back a governor who will sustain the good deeds that are being enjoyed currently in the state,” he said. (NAN)
