By Nudoiba Ojen
Ondo state Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has said his administration will continue to promote industrial peace and operate an open and transparent governance, with the welfare of workers as a major priority of his administration.
The Governor stated this while addressing workers during the celebration of the 2024 Worker’s Day at the Gani Fawehimi Freedom Arcade, along Igbatoro road in Akure, on Wednesday.
Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed his delight in celebrating his first Workers’ Day as the Governor of Ondo State, emphasizing the importance of the event amidst preparations for the upcoming gubernatorial election in the State.
Reflecting on the state’s record of industrial peace, the Governor said the modest achievements of his administration could not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of workers.
The Governor said that in demonstration of his commitment to workers’ welfare, his administration would continue to give priority attention to the “regular payment of salaries and pensions, steady payment of gratuity and payment of backlog of salaries. These have brought relief to both serving and retired officers.
The governor said, “Regular promotion of workers with financial backing is being prioritised. This is to keep motivating our workers for quality service delivery. The promotion exercise for the current year is ongoing and I have given the Head of Service the go ahead to commence next year’s promotion exercise before the close of the year to enable eligible workers get their 2025 promotion letter at the beginning of year 2025. This approach will make it possible for retiring officers to get their terminal promotion early enough to process their terminal benefits as appropriate.
Aiyedatiwa also said that full implementation of the workers’ Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, ORANGHIS, has provided access to quality and affordable healthcare services for all workers in the State.
“Our administration is also considering the inclusion of pensioners in the scheme as doing so will provide them access to affordable necessary healthcare in their retirement years.
He said that his administration has monthly commitment of N200m for steady payment of inherited arrears of gratuities in addition to the special provision of over N1.2b to clear arrears of gratuities up to 2014.
“Efforts are also underway to settle arrears of year 2015 gratuities in one fell swoop in the course of the current year. Of course, I consider this and the monthly steady payment of outstanding gratuities more meaningful than the unsustainable interim arrangement of N10,000 Wage Award to each pensioners.
He also said that the steady recruitment into the State Public Service has been given priority attention “as our administration has given new approval for the recruitment of over 1,000 personnel in the health sector and 2,000 personnel in the education sector and the processes have begun.
“The upward review and payment of hazard allowance to health workers in the State and review of salaries and entry point of Medical Doctors are being implemented and implementation of tutors’ elongation of service from 35 to 40-year length of service and from 60 to 65 years of age respectively, has been approved to shore-up the dwindling staff strength in our public schools.
“I want to assure our workers and the generality of our people that Nigerian economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is on the way to recovery. With the ongoing economic reforms coupled with the tenacity of Nigerians, let us be optimistic that things would fully turn around for the better, very soon.”
The Governor, at the event, announced the appointment of a former President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Bola Taiwo, as his Special Adviser on Union Matters.
In separate remarks at the ceremony, labour leaders in the state, including Comrade Victor Amoko, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Clement Fatuase, praised Governor Aiyedatiwa for his unwavering support to Ondo State workers.
They commended the administration’s efforts in education, security, infrastructure, and healthcare, citing various commendable programs and interventions.
Earlier, Mr Bayo Philip, the Head of Service, urged workers to exert their utmost efforts, assuring them that the governor is committed to improving their wages through the implementation of various measures.
