Aiyedatiwa’s ₦73,000 Minimum Wage: Greek Gift, Bait to Curry Favour — Ondo PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has branded the recently approved minimum wage announced by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as a Greek gift, designed to lure civil servants and the people of Ondo State ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the campaign organisation, Ayo Fadaka, the party claimed that the wage increment is nothing more than a deceptive tactic by Aiyedatiwa and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to sway voters in the lead-up to the 16th November 2024 governorship poll.

Fadaka urged civil servants not to be fooled by what he described as a meagre pay rise and cautioned the people of Ondo State against being taken in by the ploy.

It should be recalled that Governor Aiyedatiwa, on Saturday, announced a new ₦73,000 minimum wage for workers during the flag-off of his campaign for the Ondo Central senatorial district. He noted that while the federal government had set the new minimum wage at ₦70,000, the state government would go further by paying ₦73,000 to its employees.

According to Fadaka, announcing such increments from a campaign stage reeks of desperation and is a clear attempt to win over the electorate. He described Aiyedatiwa’s administration as a total failure across all sectors.

He said, “A leader who genuinely cares about his people’s welfare would have long since addressed the root causes of Ondo State’s issues—poverty, unemployment, and the collapse of essential services.

“His tenure has been marked by neglect, indifference, and a blatant lack of empathy for the common man. Rather than pursue sustainable development and meaningful change, he has resorted to dangling this meagre wage increase as a political carrot, hoping to manipulate the electorate in a final bid for survival.

“What makes Aiyedatiwa’s move particularly appalling is the timing of this so-called wage hike. After months of inaction and disregard for workers’ struggles, this paltry increase is now being flaunted as an act of generosity.

“The truth is glaring”.