THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Delta state chapter has described the state governor, the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as “a pride to Deltans and labour-friendly administrator with the best interest of the populace at heart”, following his approval of minimum wage for workers in the state.
Delta PDP, however, descended heavily on the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what it described as” ill-informed and thoughtless invectives against the good intentions of the Oborevwori administration”.
A statement by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, said it was heart -warming that Governor Oborevwori gave consent for the state government to begin payment of the new minimum wage with effect from October 2024.
Excerpts of the statement by the state PDP leadership reads:
“The leadership of the Delta state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), happily recalls that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, Wednesday, announced the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage, during a meeting with the Organized Labour in the state, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).
“We particularly note that Governor Oborevwori ‘s prompt approval is coming immediately after the receipt of the minimum wage chart by the state government from the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission.
“His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has demonstrated leadership, foresight and compassion, responding to the material wellbeing of workers in the state, especially at this precarious period of nation-wide hardship, exacerbated by the harsh ,woeful and rudderless economic policies of the APC-led government at the centre.
“This explains why we found it highly despicable and grossly irresponsible that the state APC could shamelessly make light of the charitable, altruistic intervention of the Oborevwori administration in uplifting the living conditions of Delta workers, oppressed by an unfeeling Federal government of APC.
“It is appalling that Delta APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Valentine Onojeghuo had the imprudence to gabble in a phone interview that the minimum wage approved by the state “falls far short of addressing the escalating cost of living” among the generality of the people.
“Even a kindergarten can easily tell that the APC-led government plunged Nigerians into the prevailing hardship, unimaginable in history. How hollow and hypocritical, for the APC spokesperson to have rambled that “rampant inflation has continuously driven up the prices of basic goods and services, making it difficult for workers to meet their basic needs” in the state.
“Deltans are too wise to be hoodwinked by the crocodile tears of the state APC. The least expected of the party as mastermind of the citizens’ socio -economic woes was to have kept mute or tender apology to a starving nation “
Taking more swipes at the APC, Delta PDP in the statement dismissed the complaints of the party as “meaningless posturing of a clueless political contraption, notorious for blame game and incompetence”
Governor Oborevwori according to the state PDP deserves honour and applause for his speedy approval of the minimum.