…As govt procures 38 new cars for permanent secretaries
Civil servants in Ogun state may head for an imminent showdown with the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration over the failure of the later to remit it’s cooperative society deductions and non payment of seven years leave allowance.
Newdawnngr.com sources revealed that the non remittance of the deductions have adversely affected if not crippled the cooperative thrift society operations in the state.
It was gathered that efforts by the organised labour force through the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC and others have proved abortive as the government has failed to honour the obligations.
Besides,the issue of deductions,the workers are also angry about non release of 2020 promotion letters, gratuities of retirees and pension deductions, running into 170 months.
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Sources close to the labour group said this position is contrary to the promise made by the government during the electioneering period in 2019.
Said a source,”Remember we were told during the campaign that, this ugly situation will not repeat itself under this government.”
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On their part, the organised labour under the aegies of NLC and TUC it was learnt are doing their best to get the government fulfill it’s pledge
“The aim of this intervention by organised labour is to guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the state.
“Several letters have been written to remind the government while uncountable physical representations have been organised to drum home the yearning, groaning and pains of Ogun State workers and pensioners. ”
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However,while the labour is mounting pressure it would appear as if the government has successfully broke that rank of the workers as many of them are already calling the labour leaders unprintable names.
“One is surprised that those we are fighting for are the ones calling us unprintable names and sending threat letters and messages to our leaders,”said a labour leader who choose not to be named.
“One is however disturbed why the ordinary state worker is shifting his/her attention away from the real challenge, from the government of the day that reneges on its promises but chooses to treat the workforce as nothing. If anything, the government should be exposed instead of fighting against the labour leaders as if they are also not denied all these aforementioned allowances. ”
The labour leaders while calling on the workforce to do something before the accumulated arrears gets out of control also express worry that should a strike action be called now,political motives would be read into it since elections is a few months away.
“If today the organised labour declares an industrial dispute, how many of the state workers will be ready to follow simple directive and comply ?
Is it not better to engage the government now, before the hypocrites will accuse the state workers of conniving with the opposition to distabilise the sitting government as the elections draw near ?
Even as this protest is raging ,the state government recently procured thirty eight brand new cars to existing and newly appointed permanent secretaries in the state.
Governor Abiodun while speaking at the official presentation of the cars to the beneficiaries said the Permanent Secretaries deserved the gesture and more because they have contributed immensely to the successes of his administration and the gesture was to appreciate them for their dedication.
Abiodun who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi called on the Permanent Secretaries to continue to imbibe entrepreneurial skills that will make the agencies of government more viable saying “we are on a long journey together. I urge you to deploy entrepreneurial sense in your duties so that the government can make more impact.
The Governor said the state had great potentials which his administration was set to unlock to further improve the fortunes of the state in order to make life more comfortable for the people.
He urged the Top government officials to continue to support and cooperate with his administration saying any house divided against itself cannot stand. It would be recalled that the Governor had informed in his speech delivered on the 2022 May Day celebration that his administration has procured official cars for all the Permanent Secretaries – those appointed by this administration and those appointed by the immediate past administration and are still in service.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretaries, Chairman Body of Permanent Secretaries who is also the Permanent Secretary, Mr Kola Fagbohun expressed gratitude to the Dapo Abiodun-led administration “for yet another welfare package of brand new officials cars at a period of great financial challenges at all tiers of government in our polity”
Fagbohun pledged continued support to the government towards moving the state forward to an enviable reference point for more impactful governance.
