Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN
Ondo State Government on Tuesday promised to pay the backlog of outstanding gratuities of former staff of the state owned print media outfit, Owena Press Limited, OPL, publishers of The Hope newspaper.
As reported by the newspaper in its Wednesday April 27 edition, “government said it was touched by the unpaid gratuities of the retired staff, adding that the time has come to put an end to the issue.”
According to the report: The Chief of Staff to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chief Olugbenga Ale, gave the assurance while receiving the new executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo Sate Council, in his office in Alagbaka, Akure.
The new NUJ executive members led by the State Chairman, Leke Adegbite, were in the office of the Chief of Staff on a familiarization visit.
Ale said, “the issue of retirees at Owena Press bothers Ondo State Government. About two weeks ago, I had to take up this matter with the Head of Service and now that you have come here, we have proferred a solution. They have suffered enough. It is time to put an end to it. And I promise, we will work on it.”
The Chief of Staff who noted that members of NUJ have continuously received necessary cooperation and support from the administration, equally promised that government would continue to sustain and strengthen the existing relationship for the development of the state.
He further appealed to media professionals to do more in disseminating factual information that would engender development of the state, while also giving necessary publicity to government programmes and policies for the benefit of the people.
Earlier in his address, the new NUJ Chairman, Leke Adegbite, appreciated the state government for its developmental strides across the state.
He applauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the establishment of Amotekun Corps for the security of lives and property of the people of the state and the South West States in general.
“Amotekun has been the forefront in fighting insecurity in Ondo State, and even in the Southwest. And history will not forget you because you have been part of this huge legacy,” he added.
In another development, the Chief of Staff to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chief Olugbenga Ale, has been presented with an Award of Excellence by the National Council for Women Society (NCWS).
The award, according to NCWS, was in recognition of the selfless and humanitarian gesture to the Council. The prestigious award was presented to the Chief of Staff in his office by the state chairman of NCWS, Dr Jumoke Aborede, on behalf of the national president, Lami Lau.
