By Omowumi Omotosho
Six staff of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) whose names are withheld have been summoned by the agency’s authorities following a discussion within a KWARTMA WhatsApp group about the non-payment of the 70,000 Naira minimum wage to KWARTMA officers.
The query letter which was signed by Faruq Ola Abdullateef on behalf of the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority, Engr. Bamidele Michael read: ” On Wednesday 30″ October 2024, you condemned the State Government on the KWARTMA family platform for having not received the new minimum wage despite the Ag Chief Executive Officer’s intervention on the platform informing members of staff that the issue is been addressed and receiving attention as applicable to other parastatals in the State.
“This is tantamount to disloyalty to the State Government and disobedient to the constituted Authority. The acts are gross misconduct apart from contrary to the ethics of the service; they are also punishable under Public Service Rule (PSR) “030301” Pursuant to this, I am directed to request you to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against you for your action. You are expected to reply within 24hrs of the receipt of this query”
Recall that last week, a sociopolitical organization of young politicians from Kwara State, the Kwara Advocacy Network, expressed dissatisfaction with the recently approved ₦70,000 minimum wage for Kwara state employees. The group highlighted concerns over the increasing disparity in income between workers in Kwara and those in neighboring states.
The group particularly criticized the unequal salary structure for higher-ranking officials, urging Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his administration to reevaluate the pay scales for workers in levels 15, 16, and 17, ensuring they align with traditional standards.
In a statement the leader of the Kwara Advocacy Network, Mallam Bello Abubakar, made available to journalists in Ilorin last Thursday, the group claimed that the Kwara state minimum wage structure was poorly thought out and could exacerbate poverty among civil servants.
The group argued that while the new wage might appear as progress, it is likely to create additional challenges and confusion. They also criticized the administration for failing to address the growing income inequality between workers in Kwara and those in neighboring states.
