Gov AbdulRazaq Says ‘Retrenchment’ Was Never ‘Under Consideration’ As Kwara NLC Calls Him ‘Progressive Leader’
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara state has been a progressive leader ,who truly cares for the people of the state, including workers, newly inaugurated chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Kwara state, Comrade Murtala Saheed Olayinka, has said.
Governor Abdulrazaq has also dismissed the claim that he would sack workers in his second term describing this as a wicked rumour being peddled by members of the opposition, while saying ‘it is a product of simplistic thinking…as we definitely have no such an agenda because it brings no good to the state or the government itself’.
Speaking during the courtesy visit by the new NLC leaders in the state, Comrade Saheed said the governor’s programmes and projects are visible to all while he has continued to prioritize the welfare of workers.
He, however, called for a better synergy between the government and the Labour unions.
Comrade Saheed said: ‘As we love our state, Kwara, we are so much in love with our governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for being so caring for our community. We are monitoring the trend of events in the state and the achievements recorded so far are quite visible and laudable. Recently, I was told that the promotion of local government workers for the year 2022 is currently being released. Kudos to your administration.
No worker will feel happy when they are stagnant on a level for years without promotion. So, workers in Kwara state since the beginning of your administration are happy and encouraged. It is our desire and belief that you should continue in this rightful direction. We pray Allaah will continue to guide and protect you’.
He also commended the governor for giving the NLC the needed support ahead of its recently held delegates conference in Ilorin.
Abdulrazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye noted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com that the courtesy visit was also attended by the Head of Service, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Labour Matters, Comrade Abdulmumin Onagun; and other members of the State Administrative Council of the NLC.
Governor AbdulRazaq said he looks forward to working harmoniously with the labour unions while reiterating that his administration will continue to prioritize workers’ salaries and improved welfare .
‘We have heard the opposition saying that we are going to sack workers. They are saying this because there’s nothing for them to campaign with again. They didn’t know it is much more expensive to sack workers than to maintain them. They think if you remove 50 workers from the Ministry of Works, then you are not paying salaries for 50 persons. It doesn’t work that way. That is simplistic thinking. Yes, in the Ministry of Works you may have a gap of 50. But you have to go to the Ministry of Finance because you have to pay pensions and gratuities for the same 50 people, which are a lot more than sacking anyone. This is besides the social implications.
If you sack a worker, you are only saving possibly 30%, but you are again loading pension and gratuities. It is cheaper for us to maintain civil servants than sacking them. So, that is not in our agenda. It does not benefit us or the society as every family has a civil servant at least. We are not going to sack workers. We are determined to improve your welfare instead.
We will continue to work with you. Our doors are always open. We have a policy to hire any doctor available because doctors are leaving this country every day or leaving state hospitals to federal health facilities. So, we need more hands’ he said–Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
