By John Odunjo
The President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Ekiti State, Comrade Oluseyi Olatunde, says local governments and their workers in the state have been enjoying new lease of life since Governor Biodun Oyebanji got to office.
Olatunde said in a chat, “We know what obtains in local governments nationwide, but I want to tell you that since the inception of Governor Oyebanji, the narrative has changed in Ekiti State”.
The NULGE state president said that although Joint Account Allocation Committee still obtains on Ekiti State, “our governor has been faithful. Funds are faithfully and judiciously disbursed to the local governments. Projects are ongoing in the various local government areas.
“The work environment in the various local governments in Ekiti State is being improved upon for workers. Governor Oyebanji is embarking on holistic transformation of the local governments.
“He (Oyebanji) has just approved 90 per cent of Consolidated Health Salary Scale for health workers in local governments and 100 per cent of hazard allowance, a struggle we had been in for the past 15 years in Ekiti.
“The governor is doing wonderfully well since he came on board. The narrative of stagnation, siphoning and diversion of funds in the local governments have become a thing of the past as far as Ekiti State is concerned,” the NULGE boss said.
Olatunde who said poor power supply was general and not limited to Ekiti State, said, “Irregular power supply is affecting everywhere and even Nigeria itself. There are situations where industries are moving out of Nigeria to where power supply is stable.
“It is affecting everywhere in Nigeria. It affects private entrepreneurship, small scale industries, everywhere. Ekiti local governments are not different,” Olatunde said.
