Obaseki spoke while addressing workers during the May Day celebration at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has opened up on why he decided to increase minimum wage to N70,000 for civil servants in the state.
He said the reason is due to the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
Obaseki spoke while addressing workers during the May Day celebration at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
“Two days ago, I announced that we have raised the minimum wage in Edo State from N40,000 monthly to N70,000 monthly, an increase of over 75 per cent.
“This is because we know and feel the hardship which most of you experience daily.
“For almost a year now fuel subsidy have been removed, exchange rates are more than double and food prices have gone above the roof to the extent that you can barely buy those things that you used to buy for yourself and family.
“We are empathetic government, we cannot say we do not know, and if we know we cannot sit down and do nothing about it. That is one of the reasons that we said, even though it will be a strain on us, we should do what is expected by increasing the minimum wage,” he said.
Obaseki assured workers in the state employment that the N70,000 minimum wage is within what the state government can afford.
He added that if the Federal Government decides to approve a minimum wage higher that N70,000, and also decides to make funds available to states which they have been saving from the removal of fuel subsidy, Edo State government will adjust its minimum wage to that of the Federal Government.
The governor, who commended civil servants in the state for being worthy partners in the past seven and half years, noted that without them, his administration would not have been able to achieve all that it achieved.