Bags workers’ Award
Y John Dike
Civil and public workers in Osun state yesterday honoured Governor Ademola Adeleke with an Award of Excellence as the Most Humane Governor of the Year in an elaborate ceremony held in Osogbo.
Workers in their hundreds led by Comrade Lasun Oladele, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, presented the award of the “Most Humane Governor of the Year” to the Governor, ranking him high across all sectors of the state economy and governance.
With all public service union leaders taking turns to reel out justification for the award, the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina said the event is not just an award but that the giving out of another Two Billion, Nine Hundred Million naira pension bond made the gathering a unique one.
“Your Excellency, the entire workforce of Osun State and retirees have a lot to celebrate today as we rejoice with You on the conferment of this well-deserved award by the Labour Leaders in the State on you.
“Experience has shown very clearly that there is a wide gap between campaign promises and the actual delivery of dividends of democracy.
The case of our amiable Governor is a radical departure from this position as workers and retirees have continued to benefit from the kindness of the Governor. You indeed displayed great character and integrity by fulfilling your campaign promises to the workers and pensioners in the State in many areas:
“Prior to the advent of your Administration in the State, senior workers were owed several months of unpaid half salaries, a situation that came to the national limelight. Believing that governance is a continuum, your administration has been consistently offsetting these backlog of salary and pension arrears. As we speak, four months arrears have been paid to date.
“Your administration cash-backed arrears of promotions from the previous Administrations which were in millions of naira.
“You broke the age long jinx of aberration of Coordinating Directors as career heads of MDAs by appointing qualified civil servants as Permanent Secretaries, an action that brought life back to the entire Civil Service. You have said this is a continuous exercise.
“You have consistently approved release of fund for officers to embark on professional training to enhance their performances at work.
“You have ensured regular and consistent payment of full salaries and pension without hindrance.
“You recently granted approval for conduct of year 2023 promotion for all categories of qualified workers across the entire gamut of the public service. As we speak, the enabling circular has been issued by the Civil Service Commission.
“You increased the monthly release of fund for the payment of gratuities for retirees at the State level by 100%, that is, from N50m to N100m
“You increased the monthly release of fund for the new pension scheme from N175m to N350m, that is, by 100%.At the local government level, it was increased to N400m.
“Recently, you graciously approved the payment of #15,000 palliative to each worker and #10,000 to each retiree beginning from this month to cushion the effect of petroleum subsidy removal”, the Head of Service noted.
Speaking further, Elder Aina said “There is no further testimony to your benevolence sir as today your Excellency is set to release bonds worth billions of naira to retirees under the new pension scheme to make life more bearable for them. All of these have been achieved through prudent fiscal policy that have not in any way affected the capital expenditure of government.
“Given all these,I wish to remind all public servants of the popular adage that “to whom much is given, much is expected”. I encourage us to re-dedicate ourselves to the ideals of the Service so as to enhance our productivity, efficiency and capacity in the discharge of our official duties.
This is the only way we can really appreciate the kind gestures of our Governor towards us”, he concluded.
