Governor reveals why he increased Edo workers’ salaries

The Governor said he made the increase to show other state Governors that wages could be increased and paid promptly.

On May 1, 2016, Oshiomhole announced an increment of the minimum wage from N18,000 to N25, 000 for Edo state employees.

The Governor said “I have increased the minimum wage when my colleagues are debating that it is too high and I insisted that it is too small.

“I decided to increase it to show that not only that it is too small but it is possible to increase it and pay it.

“We are not in arrears of one month salary in Edo State. We are up to date for all those who are in direct employment in the state government, including teachers at all levels.”

Adding that he will also pay the outstanding salaries of local government workers in the state.

Speaking on how his government has improved education in Edo state, Oshiomhole said “Only nations with educated citizens can cope with the rigours of competition in a digitalised world and we are giving primary attention to that.

“We have invested in building very attractive primary schools. Across all the South-South states, Edo State has the least out-of-school population which is about six per cent, better than all our oil-rich neighbours.

“If you are following the campaigns, we have been able to tell Edo people the number of schools we have built across the state, for which they are witnesses.

“We have also told them the number of roads and communities connected with water and the five-star hospital we built in the centre of Benin City.

“The Peoples Democratic Party is simply intimidated. And to make things worse, we have produced a minister of Works twice, a minister of Education, a minister of Defence and yet, when you look at the federal roads in the state, although we produced ministers of works, but they never work.

“These are things the people know about and now it is election season, they are in trouble; they cannot say this is what they have done.”

Governor Oshiomhole also said It is criminal not to pay workers' salaries.

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