Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said that his administration has paid the sum of N8.4billion of the N14.4b owed the state workers from May 2019 to March 2022 from deductions and loans.
He also promised that efforts were on to settle the outstanding balance of N6billion .
He spoke during the 2022 Workers’ Day celebration,where he also promised that the state government would look into the non payment of leave allowances spanning seven years as well as issues surrounding Contributory Pension Law.
He added:”Sincerely, we acknowledge your perseverance on the three critical issues that we have had to grapple with. The first is the global deductions which are now 21 months arrears. From May 2019 to March 2022, total deductions and loans amounted to about N14.4billion out of which a total of N8.4billion had been paid by our administration to date, including regular payment of check-off dues, loans and shillings deductions.
“I assure you all that in the coming months and as the economy improves, the payment of the outstanding balance of N6b will be accelerated, while efforts will be made to ensure regular monthly payment of deductions going forward.
“The second and third are leave allowances which were paid last in mid-2015 and the issue surrounding Contributory Pension Scheme Law, respectively. I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, all these issues will be resolved, with your cooperation and positive attitude they shall be history soon”, Abiodun noted.
He lauded workers who are still in service for contributing to the success of the present administration and appreciated the efforts of those who had served the state meritoriously in that past.
He assured that his administration had begun settling gratuity arrears with the release of N500million every quarter, adding that a total of N2.5billion had been released so far to pay the senior citizens.
He spoke on the theme of this year’s Workers Day: “Labour, Politics and the Quest for Good Governance and Development in Nigeria”, saying it was apt and speaks to the state of affairs in the state.
He said the Ogun State workers have been non-partisan and professional in discharging their responsibilities as the public service is structured and guided by certain rules, regulations, circulars and extant laws.
Speaking,the state chairman, Trade Union Congress, Akeem Lasisi, regretted that Nigerians are going through turbulent times as there are insecurity, economic instability and general poor welfare for the citizens, declaring that “Nigeria is currently bleeding”.
He decried the non-availability of power supply despite a huge amount spent on turn-around maintenance as well as the current strike by university teachers.
Meanwhile,the state government has warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels , waterways and roadsides across the state or face severe sanctions.
Ola Oresanya, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, gave the warning during a monitoring exercise in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that the warning became necessary because of the environmental impact refuse dumping have on the overall well-being of the populace, stating that the state government will not fold its hands and watch these few individuals put the life of the larger society at risk because of their bad habits.
He warned them to either conform with the state environmental laws or face stiffer penalties as the present community service punishment will soon be reviewed.
He added:”A situation where these few people have turned our roadsides to their dumpsites despite several appeal for them to embrace the new normal of wastes management will not be allowed.This government has done so much in waste management reforms for her to allow this bad habit from these few to wash off the gains of the reforms.Ogun state residents are clean people, so this few must ship in or face sanctions”
According to him, dumping of refuse in these public places aside from its moral issues also wash off road infrastructure which is of great concern to the government.
He added that the health implications of the bad habit is so enormous that government was determined to stop it.
He also emphasised on the need to prevent flooding which is one of the results of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and called on those still indulging in the bad habit to subscribe to the waste management reforms of the state government by patronizing Waste Private Sector Participants (PSP) assigned to their areas for proper collection and disposal of their wastes.
Oresanya however commended residents who have keyed into the reforms saying they will be remembered for their roles in keeping the state clean,safe and healthy.
