This year's celebrations of the International Workers Day, world over in general and Oyo State in particular is going to be the strangest ever seen, and I have seen many. First off, it is not likely there would be any fanfare, though a tame social-distancing complying ceremony may be unavoidable. We are in a totally unprecedented times, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the over 11,500 strong Oyo State civil servants that works out of the state Secretariat, only about 3,000 are holding fort now, the others work out of their homes. Even of the said 3,000, those without cars and other personal means of transportation are exempted.
Very much unlike the bubbling and anticipatory full strength Secretariat at this time last year when I penned, 'Open Letter To Mr Bayo Titilola- Sodo', in which I advice the Chairman, Oyo State Nigerian Labour Congress, not to lose sight of the fact that 'a successful, viable and profitable government is in the best interests of workers and therefore good for the union and its members'. I expounded on the concept of Enlightened Self Interest, ESI, which may be summarised by the Yoruba adage, "Irorun eku n'irorun eiye!". That is, If life is easy for the rats, it will be easy for the birds also!".
I must commend Mr Bayo Titilola- Sodo for being a matured, results-oriented labour leader. Between him and Governor Seyi Makinde, labour-management relations had never been better in Oyo State. Of course, it helps that Governor Seyi Makinde is a honest, open and accountable public administrator who puts his cards on the table and invites the other man to examine them. This makes it easy for the labour negotiators to see government's viewpoint more easily. The payment of civil servants salaries and pensioners benefits on or before the 25th of every month, as regular as clockwork is also a great help. Hence the negotiations for and the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage was not the land mine it could have been.
Congratulations to the good people of Oyo State. Congratulations, workers of Oyo State. Congratulations, Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo, Congratulations, Governor Seyi Makinde. We are all rewriting labour- government relations history.
Olubunmi Sodipo
0809 803 0422
bunmidipo@gmail.com
twitter @olubunmisodipo
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