In Grand display of pomp and circumstance on Tuesday morning, Osun workers welcomed and ushered in the State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, into office after the Yuletide.
They lauded the contributions of the Governor to the growth and development of the civil service in the State as manifested in the priority given to their welfare and well-being since assumption of office.
This is even as the Governor presented cars and other star prizes facilitated by the government to outstanding workers for their commitment and dedication to duty, saying their unflinching support, cooperation and understanding had been magnanimous.
The workers received the Governor at the Main Gate of the State Government Secretariat with solidarity songs and funfair to demonstrate their gratitude and appreciation for his passion and love for the state workforce.
The workers, led by the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jacob Adekomi, and the Head of Service, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade, trekked with the Governor from the Gate to the Governor’s office parking lot, the venue of the yearly inter-religious prayer session organised to mark the first work day and herald the New Year.
The elated, enthusiastic and jubilant workers were seen with pro-government banners with different inscriptions such as “Osun Workers are saying Thank You”; “We are solidly behind you and your Adminstration”; “Thank You for being there for us”, among others.
Speaking at the prayer session, the Osun Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jacob Adekomi, attributed the rousing welcome of the Governor to the continued support the workers had received from him since assumption of office.
Adekomi, who described Oyetola as the best helmsman and an astute manager of human and material resources, said the gains recorded so far by the state workforce remain unquantifiable under his watch.
“First and foremost, we give glory to God for sparing our lives till date because if not, who are we? As workers, we are very happy today because Mr. Governor has been very attentive to our plights. He has been listening to agitations and demands.
“As you can see, another innovation has come our way today as Mr. Governor has donated cars to some workers, the first of its kind in the history of the State since its creation.
“Also, Mr. Governor has approved Car Refurbishing Loans for workers. This is what we have been agitating for over the years. He has given civil service a facelift and he has equally approved our 10,000 hectares of land for the construction of over 180 housing units for the benefit of workers in the State to mention but a few because we have series of achievements to his credit.
“If we are to begin to mention what he has done for us, we will not come to an end. Though we still have some other agitations, so far so good, Mr. Governor has done excellently well for the workers. That is why we workers in our volition came out en masse to receive him warmly back to office after the Yuletide celebrations.
“I urge my colleagues at various levels to continue to give their support to him and his Government as he continues to champion our cause,” Adekomi added.
In his remarks, Governor Oyetola described the workforce in the State as the brain behind the success story of the Administration as their labours, passion, discipline and conviction constituted the wings upon which the Administration flies in fulfilling its sacred mandate.
He implored them to commit to doing better, improve their personal and collective productivity, and rededicate themselves to the Omoluabi ethos.
Oyetola described year 2021 as one in which the State recorded very significant achievements that made life better for the people and placed them on a surer footing of sustainable economic development.
He said the preceding year also brought the citizens nearer to their envisioned destination of an Osun that is absolutely prosperous and a pride to all and sundry.
He noted that his Administration has kept faith with his electoral promise of putting workers’ welfare first and ensuring that they are duly compensated for their invaluable contributions.
Governor Oyetola urged the residents to continue to maintain peace, religious tolerance and harmonious relationship that the State was known for.
“I feel particularly gratified that in you our hardworking, sacrificial and resilient workers, we have found dependable allies in our focused quest for the transformation of our dear State.
“Indeed the journey of the last three years plus since our assumption of office cannot be told without taking stock of the invaluable support we have enjoyed from you.
“Your labours, passion, discipline and conviction in our Development Agenda constitute the wings upon which our administration flies in fulfilling its sacred mandate.
“It is in appreciation of your sustained partnership we have ensured that we keep faith with our electoral promise of putting your welfare first and ensuring that you are duly compensated for your invaluable contributions.
“So, if you have observed that we have never defaulted in paying salaries as and when due, deliberately entrenched reward mechanisms to recognize exceptional service deliveries, restored the car loan scheme and even commenced the implementation of the minimum wage regime among various other interventions, it is in registering our unreserved appreciation to you for serving and labouring to build the economy of our State.
“For us, motivating you is beyond a clever political point. It is a sacred duty we owe you and our God whose injunction in the Holy Book is that workers are deserving of ripping the good for which they have ardently laboured. We shall continue to sustain this injunction without fail.
“I must equally use this opportunity to assure all our retirees that we are fully committed to you. Not only would we continue to pay the pensions, we shall also redouble efforts in meeting up with obligations owed by previous administrations.
“As we begin the journey of a new year, which, in many ways, is another defining year for our State, I urge us to commit to doing better, improve our personal and collective productivity, rededicate ourselves to the Omoluabi ethos that define us as a special people and race.
“Let us shun indolence under whatever guise and reposition ourselves for a diligent and a more fulfilling work life.
“ As we settle down to begin work this 2022, let us all remember to observe the Covid-19 protocol in our collective interest. We must at all times remember that the pandemic is still very much around and manifesting in waves.
“As a show of leadership, I have taken the first, second and even the booster vaccine, It is safe. I implore all those who are yet to take the vaccines to please do so,” the governor said.
In their separate lectures, the Chief Imam, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Imam Taofeek Abdulhammed and State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Amos Ogunrinde, admonised the people to always put God first in whatever they do.
The clerics who advocated peaceful coexistence called on the people to see their positions, powers and other worldly things as ephemeral, saying they must be conscious of the day of accountability and stewardship before the Creator.
The cars beneficiaries are a Public Health Nurse, Mrs. Adeosun Francisca Adebola; a staff of the Ministry of Works, Engr. Adepoju Rasak Daramola; a Primary School Teacher, Mrs. Abiola Grace Aduke; a Secondary School Teacher, Mr. Adeyemo Isiaka Adeoye and OSBC Reporter, Mr. Yemi Aboderin.
Other workers went home with different prizes like Plasma TV and Refrigerator among others.
