Ahead of the gubernatorial election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured the workers that if elected, his administration will pay above the 30,000 minimum wage benchmark and policies to improve their welfare would be introduced.
Sanwo-Olu added that the benefits that existed before but were denied during the present administration would be reinstated by his administration when elected on 9th of March, 2019.
The APC governorship candidate gave the assurance on Thursday while addressing civil servants with his deputy, Dr, Obafemi Hamzat, a meeting which was expected to be conveyed by the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, but was absent, in Ikeja.
He noted that his administration would consider the civil servants welfare because they will drive his vision for the state which is targeted at building an enviable smart city.
While assuring the civil servants that his administration would operate an all inclusive government, he stated that workers would be engaged, trained and motivated to work effectively for Lagos development.
“As part of the motivation, we will take the minimum wage above the level presented at the National Assembly. And the payment will not exceed the 23rd of every month. This is part of the welfare package we have for civil servants in Lagos.
“We will also ensure a car package for senior staffs that have attained directors’ status in the public service. We cannot allow workers that are required to stay back and work to start looking for bus to convey them home at night.
“On the staff bus, I discovered that civil servants now pay to repair the vehicle. When elected, our administration will replace the rickety vehicles for the staff. All these, we believe would motivate the staff to deliver in every task they have been mandated to do,” he added.
While responding to complaint from workers, Sanwo-Olu assured that his administration, if elected, would restore local and international training benefit to the State public service.
He added: “We cannot give you tool alone without training because they accompany each other. It is when we have done that the government can have an effective public service that drives the policies.
“This we believe will make the workers have the required skill to perform the task of taking Lagos to greater height. And it will be considered an important issue by our administration.”
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that his administration, when elected, would establish a platform for retired civil servants to act as volunteer workers, saying, we always have some civil servants that are still active but due to the public service barrier on age, they leave service.
“Some of these retired workers have acquired skills over the years. The retirement has barred them from further rendering their service to the state but they are active. So, we cannot allow them take that skill away. This is why we have concluded that when we are elected, such plan would be implemented in the state.”
Aside the welfare for workers, the APC candidate disclosed that his government would complete all existing projects especially the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which serve as a major entry route for foreigners from Western African countries visiting the country.
