By Banji Ayoola
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has advised Ondo State Government to look inward and block all leakages to enable it sustain the last five months’s payment of workers’ full salaries and increase the state’s internally generated revenue.
While it appealed to the state government to continue its prioritisation of workers’ welfare, the congress asked the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address the worsening unemployment situation among the youths, and the worrisome economic and security challenges confronting the country.
During his speech at this year’s Workers’ Day rally in Akure, the state capital, NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Sunday Adeleye, warned that civil servants in the state may soon return to receiving percentage salaries if the state government fails to shore up its internal revenue.
He was represented by his Deputy, Victor Amoko, urging the state government to look inward noting that the facility ‘greatly helped the State Government to paying 100 per cent salaries in the last five months.
Noting that the funding facility tagged ‘Bridging Facility’ offered States to shore-up salary payment from November, 2021 ended in April, 2022, Adeleye said that the facility greatly helped Ondo State Government to pay 100% salaries in the last five months.
He said that workers could only pray for Divine intervention and rescue the labour chief urged the state to look inward and help the situation.
Also, he urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to block leakages in revenue in the state by adopting the Treasury Single Account.
Lamenting the non-payment of salary to staff of the state owned tertiary institutions especially the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, whose staff are owed 12 months’ outstanding salaries, he advised Akeredolu to plug leakages in the tertiary institutions and ensure adoption of the principle of Treasury Single Account (TSA) for the purpose of adequate monitoring and accountability.
Particularly, he urged the state government to shore up its revenue as the bridging facilities of the Federal Government is winding up to avoid the payment of percentage salaries.
Adeleye urged the state government to block leakages in revenue in the state by adopting the Treasury Single Account.
He said workers of the state-owned polytechnic, Rufus Giwas Polytechnic, Owo, have been owed months of salary arrears, while he noted that the TSA should be adopted across tertiary institutions in the state in order to block leakages.
According to him: “It is important we mention again, the need for government to create room for useful and gainful employment for our teeming youths.
“Though, nations are today diversifying into agriculture, e-commerce, entrepreneurial opportunities to mop-up our youths from the Labour market.
“We specially appeal to Mr Governor to do something in bridging the serious gap in the Secondary Schools, by employing a sizeable number of Ondo State indigenes as Tutors in order to help the destinies of our Secondary School students.
“Labour is again willing to sacrifice moderately to accommodate the new intakes as done to Teachers employed by SUBEB.
“It is no more news that our state-owned tertiary institutions are seriously in need of Mr Governor’s magnanimous consideration. Rufus Giwa Polytechnic is the worst hit with outstanding salaries of 12 calendar months. Something urgent must be done, Your Excellency.
“We are re-emphasising our earlier stand on the need for government to plug leakages in these institutions and ensure the principle of Treasury Single Account (TSA) is adopted for the purpose of adequate monitoring and accountability.”
Adeleye also called on workers to get their Permanent Voter Cards in order to be armed with the power to choose rightly at next year’s general elections.
Also, the TUC Chairman in the state, Comrade Hellen Odofin, ask government to pay workers’ salary arrears from December 2021 till date including outstanding leave bonuses. stressing that workers deserve their wages.
She said that attention should also be given to the payment of all outstanding leave bonuses of workers in the state noting: “Payment of salary arrears from December 2021 till date including outstanding leave bonuses, should be given a serious thought, as every labourer deserves his wages.”
In his speech at the event, the governor assured the workers that all the backlogs of salary arrears of the workers would soon be cleared.
Akeredolu who was represented by his Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, said “there is dire need for all public servants to adopt a new attitude towards the business of governance by showing high sense of productiveness and creativity in carrying out their duties.
“I also urge us all to begin to come to terms with the “new normal” realities which include digitalisation of work process, artificial intelligence, critical thinking, continuity planning and personal safety and health which are now paramount at workplace globally.
“While government and workers are partnering in compulsory Contributory Health Scheme to avoid catastrophic health expenditure by workers, we must, therefore, continue to place premium on our individual health. Health is wealth: just as prevention is always cheaper and better than cure.”
Akeredolu commended the resilience and dedication of the civil servants which have engendered optimum service delivery to the people of the state, while he appreciated the leadership of the organised labour in the state for the continued exhibition of maturity, understanding and support, particularly at these challenging times.
“The workers are the strong engine room of every government. Their contributions to the success of any administration can not be over-emphasised.
“It is in recognition of the importance of our workers that this administration has continued to place premium on their welfare.
“We have set aside the obnoxious practice which encouraged partisan politics and truncate the careers of committed public servants. Our administration has in the last five years, determined the promotion of public servant on merit. These promotion exercises are regular and timely.
“We have repositioned our civil service and promote discipline among public officers. We have instilled values that encourage better performance and reward hard work. We shall continue to get better.”
Akeredolu said that about 4,279 personnel had been recruited into various critical sectors of the Public Service from 2017 to date while over 3,532 eligible workers of different categories have been slated for promotion this year.
He said that his administration has put aside the obnoxious practice which encouraged partisan politics and truncated the careers of committed public servants by determining promotion of public servant on merit.
He said he would explore every available means to ensure that he meets the obligations of paying workers salaries, pensions and gratuities, and subventions as and when due, despite the paucity of fund and the dwindling federal allocation.
He urged all public servants to adopt a new attitude towards the business of governance by showing high sense of productiveness and creativity in carrying out their duties.
The Governor who appreciated the leadership of the organized labour in the state for the continued exhibition of maturity, understanding and support, particularly at these challenging times.
“The workers are the strong engine room of every government. Their contributions to the success of any administration can not be over-emphasized.
“It is in recognition of the importance of our workers that this administration has continued to place premium on their welfare.
While congratulating workers in the state on the occasion of the 2022 Workers’ Day Celebration, Akeredolu saluted the resilience and dedication of the civil servants which have engendered optimum service delivery to the people of the state.
He appreciated the leadership of the organized labour in the state for the continued exhibition of maturity, understanding and support, particularly at these challenging times.
His words: “The workers are the strong engine room of every government. Their contributions to the success of any administration can not be over-emphasized.
“It is in recognition of the importance of our workers that this administration has continued to place premium on their welfare.
“We have set aside the obnoxious practice which encouraged partisan politics and truncate the careers of committed public servants. Our administration has in the last five years, determined the promotion of public servant on merit. These promotion exercises are regular and timely.
“We have repositioned our civil service and promote discipline among public officers. We have instilled values that encourage better performance and reward hard work. We shall continue to get better.
“We have recently approved the bifurcation of the Directorate of Finance and Administration into two departments. This is in line with the Federal Government’s directive that the directorate be separated into two departments for the purpose of specialization and to promote optimum service delivery.
“The newly bifurcated departments are the Finance and Accounts; and the Administration and Supplies. It is our belief that this bifurcation will further strengthen the delivery of services and allow core professionals to handle their schedules. We will continue to strive for more excellence in the civil service.
“While we are optimistic that better days await us, we shall not shy away from performing our avowed responsibilities. We shall keep exploring every available means to ensure that we meet our obligations of paying workers salaries, pensions and gratuities, and subventions as and when due, despite the paucity of fund and the dwindling federal allocation.”
He urged the workers to rededicate themselves to the service of the state and join hands with his administration to deliver on the “REDEEMED” agenda of his second term in office.
