Councillorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, Kwara State local government elections have expressed dissatisfaction with the state government's implementation of the ?70,000 minimum wage.

Under the banner of the Forum of 2024 PDP Councillorship Candidates, the group voiced their concerns during a stakeholders' meeting in Ilorin on Thursday. State Coordinator Muftau Aromaradu criticized the policy, stating that it failed to reflect the current economic realities faced by workers in the state.

The forum called on the state government to take urgent steps to address their concerns and ensure that the wage adjustment meets the needs of the populace.

“The wage award has not taken into account the current economic realities, including the high cost of living and the erosion of purchasing power. As a result, workers in Kwara state are still struggling to make ends meet, despite the supposed increase in their salaries”.

The group, which also said that the state government should have adopted consequential adjustments in implementing the new minimum wage, added that the government chose wage award instead, “where 'flat rate' was added to all workers' salaries irrespective of their levels”.

“For instance, while Katsina state, which also pays the N70,000 minimum wage, has implemented a new salary structure that reflects consequential adjustments, Kwara State has opted for a wage award that adds a fixed amount to workers' salaries, regardless of their grade level. This approach has resulted in a glaring disparity between the two states.

“In Katsina state, a level 10 worker earns more than level 13 worker in Kwara state, despite being three grade levels higher. This is a clear indication that the wage award implemented in Kwara state is not only inadequate but also unfair.

“Furthermore, the wage award has failed to address the issue of salary relativity, which has resulted in a situation where some workers are earning almost the same as or more than their superiors. This has created a sense of injustice and demotivation among workers”.

The group demanded that the state government should take immediate action to address the identified disparities, while calling for a comprehensive review of the salary structure to ensure that consequential adjustments are made to reflect the true value of workers' labour.

“We also demand that the government addresses the issue of salary relativity and ensures that workers are paid according to their grade levels and qualifications. Furthermore, we call for a review of the wage award to take into account the current economic realities and ensure that workers are paid a living wage.

The PDP councillorship candidates, who said that they are committed to position the opposition party ahead of 2027 general elections, maintained that the PDP won the council poll against the results declared by the state Independent Electoral Commission.

“The forum of 2024 PDP Councillorship Candidates has been committed to playing key roles in positioning our dear party ahead of the 2027 general elections in order to come out victorious just as we had in the last local government elections”.