The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has said his administration fulfilled its promise not to owe workers’ salaries in the state by paying the workers as and when due.
This is just as the state promoted 8,415 public servants in 2022.
He stated that the state workers had received their salaries up until November 2022, but the delay in the December salary was due to the advice of the labour leaders in the state to allow workers to meet their new year’s financial obligations.
Akeredolu said this at the annual prayer meeting with the state public servants on Tuesday, the first working day of the year, held at the governor’s office in Akure, the state capital.
The governor, however, assured the workers that their December salary will be paid soon, while also promising that the one month remaining from the inherited seven months of salary arrears would also be paid before the end of his tenure.
Addressing the workers, the governor said, “As you are aware, you received three alerts in December. We paid for October and November 2022. You also received a leave bonus. We would have paid in December, but the labour leaders advised that we delay it until January to allow you to meet your financial obligations. Students will resume soon. We will pay the school fees.
“Also, we inherited seven months’ salary arrears, and we paid six months. Before I leave the office, I will pay the remaining one,” he pledged.
In the forthcoming general elections, the governor admonished the civil servants to play the game according to the rules while exercising their franchise at the polls and not be partisan.
“Let me reiterate for the umpteenth time that public servants are not expected to be involved in partisan politics. Absolute loyalty and commitment should be the watchwords of the service.
“Again, political discourse should be civil, with decorum, and conducted statutorily. You will note that our administration has insulated the bureaucracy from partisan politics,” he urged.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele, who disclosed that 8,415 public servants across the state were promoted with financial benefits in 2022, thanked the governor for his continued support in all areas about issues affecting public servants in the state.
