May Day 2024: Gov Adeleke Promises To Sustain Labour-Friendly Policies, Programmes In Osun

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state  has restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of  workers in the state asserting that his records on labour matters had since  confirmed his genuine love for  the Osun workers.

A statement made available toTeam@orientactualmags.com by Adeleke’s  spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed noted that the governor, who said this while giving his speech during the 2024 May Day rally in Osogbo  on Wednesday, added that his government has also paid over Two Billion Naira in cash assistance  to public servants and pensioners in the state.

‘You have in me and my team, fellow comrades who are determined to give workers the best of work environment and attractive incentives. 

We are a government that walks the talk in terms of labour- friendly policies and programmes. Our leadership is by all accounts, for the labour, by the labour and of the labour movement.

We all know it has never happened for a political party to make the welfare of workers the first item on its manifesto for the state. Our party and government made a conscious decision to place workers at the core of our governance agenda’ the governor told the workers.

 He added that the decision to have welfare of workers as number one agenda was borne out of  ‘the top notch value we place on the workforce as the engine room of government’. 

‘As a fellow comrade, I needed no one to convince me to accept and implement a series of policies and programmes favorable to the labour movement’ Governor Adeleke said, while thanking the labour movement for appreciating ‘our records of achievements’. 

‘I commend you for the award you gave me, especially the grade A marks you awarded me on several aspects of  welfare of workers and promotion. 

I look back to what we met on the ground in November 2022, and I am proud to declare that I have kept faith with our promises, plans, and agenda for our workers’ the governor added.

He  also had this to say while listing his achievements in the labour sector  :

‘We have cashbacked promotion of staff we met on the ground in 2022; We have implemented gradual defrayment of unpaid deductions from workers’ salaries by the previous administrations

We introduced gradual systematic payment of half salaries owed workers and retirees by past administrations. By now, we are in the process of paying the 6th month for active and retired workers while we have gone far in paying workers, not yet bonded.

Our government has also paid over Two Billion Naira for palliative wage awards from December 2023 till date. The payments include Fifteen Thousand Naira for public servants and Ten Thousand Naira for pensioners.

We have implemented and cashbacked the 2023 promotion for all categories of civil servants at all levels. At the state level alone, excluding tertiary institutions, local governments, and primary schools, over 2,000 civil servants have been promoted with cash backing

We appointed several Permanent Secretaries, thereby eradicating the wicked, obnoxious policy of the past administrations that made Coordinating Directors serve as Accounting Officers of MDAs. The process is a continued one as I had earlier promised as the Head of Service will be directed to do the needful at the appropriate time

We have enrolled numerous retirees on the OHIS scheme to ensure  that they have access to quality health care. 

We have continued to pay  full salaries to workers and retirees at all levels without fail despite the tight financial situation. As I speak, we have paid April salary and allowances

We have continued to release bond certificates to retirees under the pension scheme, which to date has run into billions of naira at both state and local government levels. 

This month, I have the plan to release another round of bonds to retirees in billion to cushion the biting effect of the present economy

We are in the process of engaging new teachers at both primary and secondary levels. The process which is being coordinated by the HOS and the Agencies under the education sector is ongoing’ he noted.

On the current fuel scarcity in the country, Governor Adeleke said  the state Taskforce on petroleum products has deployed monitoring teams to ensure that fuel hoarding is stopped in the state as supply increases.

On the current high food prices , the governor said his government is working to create special food marts across the state, adding that ‘such centers will sell food items at controlled prices to address the current high food prices. 

He however warned public servants against violation of the official secret act,  warning that ‘we must stop divulging official information’  while promising ‘to sanction any official caught engaging in this condemnable act’

Chairman of the Osun state  NLC , Comrade Abimbola Arapasopo in his address commended the governor for his landmark achievements in support of workers in the state, asserting that ‘Osun Workers have never had it so good’.

He used the occasion to submit a list of demands to the governor, saying ‘we are Oliver Twist asking for more’.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina; members of the State Executive Council; Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Honourable Tunji Adeleke; and other government officials-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 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you