Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, says the Federal Government may not be able to pay workers’ salaries beyond June 2023 without resorting to massively printing money or removing fuel subsidy.

Obaseki said this while speaking at the 2023 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Monday, May 1.

The governor, who reassured that his government will sustain reforms and projects to improve the welfare of workers and ensure better livelihoods for the people of Edo State, urged the workers in the country to shift from the tradition of reacting when policies that affect them have already been made but take charge and ensure full transparency and accountability of government’s policies and programmes.

He said: “It would be a miracle for the Federal Government and state governments to pay salaries beyond June this year without resorting to massively printing money or removing fuel subsidy. Either of these decisions will bring more hardship and pain to Nigerians, particularly workers.

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“We must all make sure that the burden and pain of these measures, which must be taken, are not carried by workers alone. Workers must now rise and ensure that they champion any discussion on subsidy removal.

“You must shift from the tradition of reacting when these policies have been made but insist that you take charge and ensure full transparency and disclosure. If we are all undertaking a reform, then the benefits and pains that will come out of the reforms must be mutually shared by all Nigerians, not just the downtrodden.”

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to the welfare of workers in Edo State, Obaseki stated: “I am proud to say that Edo workers are currently the best-paid workers in Nigeria.

“When we announced the increment of the minimum wage to N40,000 at this venue last year, I expected that the Federal Government and other state governments would follow suit immediately but I am surprised that it has taken them one year already.”

Others at the event included the Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie; Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha; and the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun; among others.

The Star