1st May, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye,Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, southwest, Nigeria said the cooperation and positive attitude of Ogun State workers have been the secret behind the success of the administration Rebuilding Mission.
The governor stated this today during his address at the 2014 May Day celebration held at the MKO Abiola International Stadium,Kuto,Abeokuta, themed: “Building enduring peace and unity:Panacea for sustainable national development”.
” I use this medium to appreciate and commend all members of the Public Service of Ogun State for the unquantifiable co-operation and support you have demonstrated through your dedication, professionalism and selfless service towards the successful implementation of the “Five-Cardinal Programme” of our Administration as embedded in our “Mission to Rebuild” Ogun State.
” The truth is that without you as the driving force and the engine room of government policies, we would not have achieved this much. I say a BIG thank you,” Amosun stated.
The governor further highlighted some of his administration’s plan to better the lives of its workers. “In the last 35 months of our administration, we have been unwavering in the discharge of our duty to better the lot of our workers. We have consistently taken the issue of the on-the-job training of our workforce seriously.
“Our Administration believes that a well trained and retrained Civil Service will increase productivity and raise our administrative competence. Across all cadres and levels of the Public Service, we have continued to make fund available for this purpose. I am particularly happy that the era of non-payment of salaries, leave bonus and pension arrears have become a thing of the past in the Ogun State Public Service.
“Workers now collect their salaries and various allowances as at when due. Only some weeks ago, our administration released 1.5billion naira to clear the backlog of pension arrears inherited from the immediate past administration and those that retired in the course of our own administration. Let me reassure you that we are fully aware of the vital position occupied by the workers and we would not at any time hesitate to implement other programmes that will make our workforce happy”,Amosun enthused.
The governor used the opportunity to appeal to the abductors of the over 200 girls from Chibok in Borno State, to in the interest of the mother’s agony, release them unhurt.
“I want to appeal to you all to always take out time to pray for Nigeria and the over 200 students kidnapped in Chibok in Borno State. We pray for God’s intervention in securing the release of the students and stemming the tide of violent crimes against humanity in Nigeria,” he pleaded.
In his address,the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Hakeem Ambali thanked the governor for his administration support in uplifting the welfare of the workers.
“I want to appeal to you Sir, to lift the embargo on stoppage of statutory allocation to bureau of local government pension. Since 2012, local government accumulated fund of N3.9billion from CBN to the pension bureau has not been released. They need this fund to pay gratuities of primary school teachers and local government workers,” Ambali said.
He further demanded for the transformation of the present Bureau of Establishment and Training into a full fledge Ministry of Labour, Manpower Development and Productivity.
His counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Seyi Adebanjo called on the Minister of Education to look into the disparity between university graduates and their polytechnic counterparts, urging the federal government to address the matter once and for all.