Governor Abiodun
Despite dwindling Federal allocations to states and pervading inclement economy aggravated by unmitigated increase in government spendings, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has vowed not to increase taxes in a bid to increase the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Rather, Governor Abiodun has pledged to continue to adopt alternative means of getting funds to run the state in the face of scarce resources.
Governor Abiodun, who saidⁿⁿa. this at the 2023 Workers’ Day celebration held at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Workers ‘Rights and Social Economic Rights”, stated that ‘’the present government understands workers’ plight and is working towards addressing them’’.
He Explained that despite widening expen¹ses of government, his administration has put in place an improved working environment for the state workforce.
He noted that his government has provided affordable housing scheme, upward review of car and motorcycle refurbishing loans by 100 percent and has also appointed new Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.
He said that his government had constructed and allocated Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, as well as the newly constructed quarters for workers and Permanent Secretaries at Laderin Estate, noting that the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise for Civil Servants had been completed.
Governor Abiodun revealed that a total of N13bn out of the N19bn global deductions owed the State workers had been paid and assured that the N6bn outstanding would be cleared in the coming months, adding that N88.92bn was paid as pensions for the State and Local Government retirees to date.
According to him, ‘’government has paid the sum of N4.1bn as gratuities for both State and Local Government retirees, just as the quarterly release for Pensioners has been increased from N500m to N1bn, while the minimum monthly payment for pensioners has been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.
The governor promised to implement policies and programmes to enhance wellness of workers, just as regular training and retraining to increase productivity and improve service delivery in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies would be intensified, describing the state workforce as critical stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.
In his remark, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr. Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers, as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasising that the Federal Government had taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.
On his part, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, lauded the State government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ needs, maintaining that the celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.
While urging the State government to put labour issues on the front burner, the Chairman called on the Federal Government to address the current security issue, unemployment and other challenges facing the nation, saying the union would continue to protect its members’ interests by engaging government constructively, rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.
In his contribution, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hameed Benco, said government had performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the present administration to implement the 40 percent salary increment to the State workers.
Highlight of the celebration was the march past by various trade unions, associations, includiing student bodies in the State.
