Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said on Monday that his administration has prioritised workers’ welfare in the last 44 months, adding that he has ensured no worker was sacked so far in his tenure.
The governor, who stated this during the 2023 Inter-faith Service, held at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, said that he has remained faithful to his promise to uphold workers’ welfare.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor also ordered the immediate payment of two months’ salary deductions to the workers.
Makinde, who said that he has also ensured that no worker has been unjustly dismissed from work, added that his administration is built on fairness, equity and justice.
According to him, his administration has employed a good number of health workers as well as 5,000 teachers, adding that he will continue to prioritise the welfare of the workers in the state.
The governor, while speaking on the salary structure of Oyo State House of Assembly workers, said that his administration will find means of paying the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure within the resources available to the state.
He said: “There is no need for a long speech today, but I will address a few of the things you brought up. This is because I promised the people of Oyo State that I have control over whether I will be truthful to them or not. I will always tell you the truth no matter what is involved. I may make mistakes, it is only God who is above the mistake.
“This is the fourth inter-faith service and the last for the first tenure of this administration. You did not collect 13th month salary in 2018 but you got it in 2019, (when we came on board), 2020, 2021 and 2022, and I am sure you will get it again in 2023 under this same administration, when I am re-elected as your governor.
“We promised to look after the welfare of our people; the civil servants and also the people of Oyo State. I will mention one or two things we have done, which are deliberate. For 44 months, we did not sack any individual, rather, we brought back those who were wrongfully dismissed without collecting anything. We worked based on fairness, equity and justice.
“We employed 5,000 teachers and 500 health officers. Though there are still few people that are yet to be brought back into the system, it was not this administration that dismissed those individuals but we have to look at the documents on ground. If they had accused someone of theft, would I bring the person back into the system? No. So, those we brought back were those we were satisfied with their documentation.
“Another major issue that the Labour Unions brought up is that of deductions. I can assure you that it will also be addressed within days.
I met with the Commissioner of Finance before I came for this programme and requested some certain information on the deductions. I told him that the money should have been paid to the workers while they pay to the Cooperatives by themselves,” he said.
