Adebayo Adenrele
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, has restated his commitment to Public Workers in the State to continue to pay their salaries and deductions without any hitch.
Oyebanji stated this today during a Stakeholders’ Engagement session, where he gave account of his stewardship to the people in commemoration of his 100 days in office.
At the event themed ‘Keeping Ekiti Working Towards Shared Prosperity’, he added that when they were paid, the resources will go round the market women and artisans, thereby building a strong local economy in the state.
The executive Governor also stated that he would use the philosophy of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of the old Western region drive development in the state, focusing more on the welfare of the people above any other considerations.
According to him, his administration would undertake a radical review of academic curriculum in the state to expose students to cognate knowledge that would make them relevant in the 21st century economy.
He said: “One of the main policy thrust of his administration was to ensure that the welfare of workers was accorded top priority. My administration is making workers welfare a top priority as well. To us, right from the time we started, we have been paying salaries regularly and I know that those who are doing cooperatives are also receiving their deductions and I have given matching order to Commissioner for Finance and Accountant General that payment of deductions must not fail because I promised workers that we are going to restore regular payment of deductions because workers rely on it to finance a lot of things including payment of children school fees, building of houses and so on.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo is dead, but Chief was remembered more because of free education than because of any other thing, and that tells me that policy, though intangible that has a very fundamental effect on the lives of the populace will be more enduring and sustainable than any other thing. And I was elected to choose Awolowo’s philosophy of developing the people.
“We campaigned on a mantra of shared prosperity and the six pillars of my administration is geared towards that and the only way we can achieve this is through productivity, so, the driver or engine of growth is the micro, small and medium enterprises in any state or country. But the lubricant of the engine is the civil service. Why I am saying this is for you to understand what is going to drive our policy thrust.” He said
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Barr. Bamidele Agbede, members of the National Assembly; members of the House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, labour union leaders, Religious Leaders,Monarchs, market women, Artisans and other stakeholders of the state.
