COVID-19: Oyo government assures workers on payment of salaries, emoluments

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured workers in the State that he would not go back on the prompt payment of salaries and emoluments, even in the face of more challenges and difficulties that might arise from the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused some other states to struggle with salary payments.

The Governor gave the assurance through his Special Adviser on Labour Affairs, Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo, while handing over two new buses to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Comrade Sodo described the gesture, which came less than 48 hours after Governor Makinde made the vow to the unions, as the continuity of the robust relationship between the labour unions and the present administration in the State, adding that with time it would be extended to other labour groups.

Sodo said: “Since the beginning of this government in Oyo State, it has been a robust relationship between the government, labour leaders and workers of Oyo State. And it is in continuation of that robust relationship that the Governor decided to donate buses to two labour unions for the efficient running of their activities. It will get to the turn of other labour unions that have not gotten theirs.”

While assuring the workers of an improved welfare, the former Oyo NLC Chairman called for a reciprocal gesture from the union leaders and the workers of the State, saying since the Governor had kept faith with the workers, they, in turn, are expected to keep faith with the government by remaining loyal and diligent at their duty posts and being efficient, so as to move the State forward.

He noted that the relationship between the labour unions and the government in the State had remained cordial since May 29, 2019, saying that although some people were skeptical that the Governor would not be able to continue the prompt payment of salaries and other emoluments to all categories of beneficiaries in Oyo State, including active and retired workers, 20 months down the line, he has kept his word by paying promptly, even 13th month salary.

Titilola-Sodo said: “We heard him loudly at the Interfaith Service and I am reiterating it again that even when Covid-19 came up and every one was afraid, we had a conversation and he assured me that even if he had nothing for six months, he will continue to pay workers of Oyo State and he has kept his word.”

In their separate remarks, the Chairman, TUC, Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran and NULGE Chairman, Comrade Adeyemi Babalola, described Makinde as a “talk-and-do Governor” and promised to reciprocate the gesture with continuous support.

Governor Seyi Makinde had, at the 2021 annual Inter-religious Service held on Wednesday, promised the union groups a functioning vehicle each.

Emmanuel Ukoh