Ondo PDP Accuses Aiyedatiwa of Using Minimum Wage Offer for Political Gain

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of using a proposed minimum wage increase as a political maneuver to gain votes in the upcoming governorship election.

On Saturday ,October 12, Aiyedatiwa, who is running for re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), announced a new minimum wage of ₦73,000 for civil servants.

This announcement was part of his campaign promises aimed at improving the livelihoods of workers in the state.

However, the PDP has criticized this move, describing it as a "Greek gift" designed to deceive voters. The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity for the PDP Campaign Organisation, Ayo Fadaka, stated, "It is disrespectful to announce the new minimum wage of dignified and decorous Ondo State workers on the podium of the electioneering, thereby politicising the welfare and well-being of the state civil service to gain undue political mileage."

The PDP urged civil servants not to be swayed by what they consider an ill-timed promise, emphasizing that "the timing is ill-conceived, and nobody is going to take him seriously because he has deceived the civil service once, and they won’t allow him to deceive them one more time — Once bitten, twice shy!"

In response, Governor Aiyedatiwa defended his actions, asserting that his intentions were genuine and not politically motivated.

He remarked, "Aiyedatiwa will never say a thing he does not mean. He didn’t announce ₦73,000 as minimum wage to score political points." He further claimed that the workers of Ondo State had already decided to support him due to his administration's consistent payment of salaries and benefits.