Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has avowed that his government, over the course of seven and a half years, had delivered good governance in all sectors.
In his speech at the 2019 Inter-Religious Service held at state Secretariat, Ibadan, on Monday, Ajimobi said he had greatly contributed to the development of the state going by his government’s strides in infrastructure, security, agriculture, education, tourism and culture, boosting Internally Generated Revenue and workers welfare.
On security, Ajimobi chided positions that his government imposed security levy on religious houses, arguing that the levy was in accordance with the law setting up the Security Trust Fund.
He maintained that the state government has lived up to its primary responsibility by ensuring peace and security of lives and property, evidenced by the resurgence of nightlife in Ibadan, the state capital.
He said his efforts in education is the introduction of Schools Governing Boards to encourage public/private participation in running schools, while the Agric sector was being improved through creation of 10,000 metric tonnes capacity silo in Oyo, giving out 338 units of tractors and collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on developing a 20-year agricultural roadmap for the state.
On workers’ welfare, Ajimobi said over 8,000 has benefited from car loans of about N500,000 each while over N500 million had been disbursed as housing loan to over 850 beneficiaries.
This is as he said the government had recruited over 2,000 junior and senior staff in permanent establishments while over 7,000 secondary school teachers had been employed since 2011.
Ajimobi, again, said he had no regret about carrying out the Ibadan Chieftaincy reforms, noting that all Ibadan elders supported the reforms from outset till its implementation.
While saluting workers for their understanding, collaboration and cooperation, he urged them to shun laziness, truancy, introduction, disloyalty, negligence and other misconducts.
“In the face of many challenges, ups and downs, especially the difficulties we faced at the tail end of our first term in office, we were still able to sail through, courtesy of the wisdom of God and the perseverance and endurance of the people of the state.
“Going by all key performance indicators, we have done well in all sectors and have delivered the benefits of democracy in all ramifications. We have achieved peace and security, just like we have done well in education, tourism and culture, workers welfare and virtually all sectors,” Ajimobi said.
In attendance at the event for the state’s civil/public servants were wife of the governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; deputy governor, Mrs Moses Adeyemo; Speaker of the state Assembly, Honourable Olagunju Ojo; members of the state executive council and Assembly; Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Akin Oke; Chief Judge, Justice Mukhtar Abimbola represented by Justice A. A. Aderemi; Chairmen of local government areas and local council development authorities; Muslim and Christian clerics.
In her own address, state Head of Service, Oyo State, Mrs Olawumi Ogunesan, avowed that the state government treated its current and former employees alike, evidenced by its disbursement of a total sum of N1.68 billion for gratuity payment for the year 2018.
Speaking against the backdrop of notions that government was discriminatory in its disposition towards retirees and pensioners compared to current workers, she maintained that the state government paid pensions once current staffers were paid their salaries.
“It is instructive to highlight government’s positive disposition towards our retirees and pensioners. It is gratifying to note that the sum of N1.68billion was disbursed for gratuity payment in the year 2018 altogether.
“As a matter of policy, the disbursement was based on streams of exit from the service. This, we believe, has brought hope to those who are still expecting theirs.
“Also, the government pays pension once current staffers receive their monthly salaries. It is therefore evident that the government does not run a discriminatory policy for its current and former employees,” Ogunesan said.
While saluting current workers for ensuring the smooth running of government, Ogunesan warned that the state government will continue to deal with those civil servants found culpable of unethical conducts like laziness, lateness, truancy, embezzlement of funds and ineptitude.
She further urged workers to help enhance productivity and value addition in the civil service through rededication to service, continuous self-development, diligence and commitment.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
