Respite, as Ajimobi announces no retrenchment in Oyo
Civil servants in Oyo State on Monday burst into wild jubilation as Governor Abiola Ajimobi declared that none of them would be retrenched in spite of the daunting economic challenges currently being faced by the state.
The civil servants, who had gathered for the annual inter-religious service to formally herald the 2016 working year at the Governor’s Office Car Park in Ibadan, could not hide their joy as they openly hailed the governor for his magnanimity.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state Chief Judge, Justice Ladipo Abimbola; the governor’s wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; members of the state House of Assembly, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Akin Oke; party members, as well as Christian and Islamic clerics.
The governor said that instead of retrenching workers, he would introduce strict economic re-engineering such as the restructuring of ministries, departments and agencies as well as the Board of Internal Revenue to shore up the internally generated revenue.
Besides, he said that since the sharp drop in the federal allocation to the state began, he had taken palliative measures which included signing a memorandum of understanding with labour that 90 per cent of the monthly allocation be devoted to the payment of salaries.
Before the current economic doldrums, Ajimobi said that workers had enjoyed one of the best welfare packages in the South-West which he said had stood his administration out as worker-friendly.
He reeled out such programmes to include payment of salaries on 25th of every month, training and re-training of workers both within and outside the country, payment of 13th month salary for three consecutive years as well as the payment of 2014 and 2015 outstanding leave bonus which, he said, had commenced.
While calling for the continued understanding and cooperation of the civil servants in his quest at repositioning the state, he, however, said that government would do everything possible to fish out ghost workers, truants and absentees and deal with them in accordance with the law.
Although he said that the present economic reality would further task the managerial ability of his government, Ajimobi pointed out that the simple lesson the situation had taught everyone was that it was no longer business as usual.
The governor commended the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Waheed Olojede and other labour leaders in the state for their support, understanding and maturity in the handling of labour matters, especially on salary payment.
On the recent defection of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to APC, Governor Ajimobi hailed his decision to team up with the progressives in the state, describing the former governor as a great sportsman.
He said that Akala’s coming to APC had shown that he had seen the light which the ruling party had brought to Nigeria.
He said, “We are happy to receive him into our house of light. After all, the Holy Books are replete with the need to love and accommodate one another and help one another to fulfill our destinies. Akala is a respected leader in his own right and we are happy to have him on board.
“In politics, there is no permanent friend or permanent enemy but permanent interest. Our permanent interest is the general good of our people and anyone who is committed to that interest is always welcome,’’ he said.
In his address, the state Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, commended the governor for the laudable measures which he had taken to bring succor to the civil servants, stressing that the kind gesture must be reciprocated by hard work, diligence, commitment and loyalty.
He warned that workers who violated government rules and regulations and were unethical in their conduct would be shown the way out of the service and that those found guilty of any act of misconduct that were criminal in nature would be prosecuted.
The HOS also appreciated labour leaders for their maturity, understanding and cooperation exhibited in 2015, expressing the hope that it would continue in 2016 for the sustenance of industrial peace and harmony.
Words of exhortation were given by the Chaplain of Government House Chapel, Rev. Fr. Francis Omolade and the Chief Imam of Government House Mosque, Alhaji Bello Rufai.