The Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said if the current economic status quo is maintained after May it will take miracle for federal and state governments to pay salary of workers from June.
Speaking during May Day celebration in Benin on Monday, Obaseki said government will have to resort to massive printing of money or removal of fuel subsidy to be able to meet its wage obligations to workers.
The governor advised workers to brace up for the challenges that would come after the removal of fuel subsidy.
He noted that Nigeria’s economy is not in the best of condition and the country is in trouble.
He said: “Our economy is in a terrible state, it will be a miracle for the federal and state governments to pay salaries beyond June this year without resorting to massively printing money or removing fuel subsidy.
“Let me point out and highlight that even though we continue to struggle in Edo, working hard to make lives better for all of you, we are not oblivious of the fact that Nigeria is in trouble.”
According to him, any of the decisions will bring more hardship and pain to us as a people, especially workers.
He added that “We must make sure that the burden and pain of these measures, which must be taken, are not borne by workers alone.
“Workers must now rise and ensure that they champion any discussions on subsidy removal.”