Ekiti State Governor promises Workers better welfare

The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi says the current harsh economic climate in Nigeria will not change his resolve to ensure a better welfare for state workers.

This is just as he congratulated workers in the state on the 2021 Workers Day celebrations, promising them a more conducive working environment.

The Governor’s promises are contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Ado Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode.

Governor Fayemi said; ”May Day offered an opportunity to celebrate workers and highlight their importance in the government’s efforts to impact lives of the citizenry.”

He said workers’ contribution to the social, and economic development of the state in particular and the country in general could not be over emphasised.

The Governor stated that workers in Ekiti, in particular, had demonstrated brilliance and commitment in the implementation of his administration’s five-pillar development agenda.

Governor Fayemi also referred to the theme of this year’s May Day celebration, “Covid-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Jobs, Social Protection and People’s Welfare”.

Priority programmes
He said that making workers happy always remained one of his priority programmes.

He recalled that political office holders in the state, including himself and top civil servants, recently made sacrifices including pay cuts in their salaries.

This, he said, was not extended to workers during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic last year.

The Governor praised the workers, especially health workers who were in the front line in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the state, for their commitment especially risking their lives to ensure that the state overcame the pandemic.

The Governor stated that although Covid-19 affected the state’s accruals from the Federation Account and its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), his administration would continue to accord workers’ welfare a priority.

He said that his administration was conscious of the demands of the Organised Labour, saying they were being looked into and would be implemented as the state’s economic situation improves.

Governor Fayemi said his administration had made it a duty to pay workers’ salaries and retirees’ pension regularly since his assumption of office.

He said that new workers were also recruited to inject fresh blood into the system.

NAN/Mercy Chukwudiebere