Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, has refuted insinuations in some quarters that the recent increment of workers’ salaries  by the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is nothing but a mere political gimmick to win the forthcoming general elections.

The commissioner who stated this at an interactive session with journalists at the weekend in Lagos noted that such insinuations were unsubstantiated because the state governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the return of civil rule in the country had been setting the pace for others to follow. Omotoso argued that no matter the percentage of the increment anyone putting more money in people’s pockets are doing the person a whole lot of good.

The commissioner affirmed” The governor is saying that we appreciate the service you are providing and although things are so hard you’re still carrying on and you are putting smiles on the faces of Lagosians who are coming to government offices.

“No matter how low or high the percentage maybe I think the symbolism is that at this particular time, Mr. Governor feels that workers deserve a raise and he has pronounced it. “And if you listened to him very well, he said he had instructed the office Head of Service, Establishment, State Treasury Office to come together to look at these and see what the numbers are and see how we can go, but that workers are now going to have a pay rise is a forgone conclusion. “I think the whole world is hailing him for doing that but if people are now saying it is for political reasons, let so many people in the positions of authority also do so for political reasons and raise the salary,” Omotoso added that apart from the salary increment many projects were currently waiting for commission in the state. He said, “We have over 30 schools for us to be commissioned, we also have housing projects to be commissioned before the end of the year and jetties are also included.”

Ada Peter