Oyo State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Olufemi Lanlehin has decried what he termed the unfair and inhuman treatment of civil servants and retirees in the state by the Abiola Ajimobi-led Oyo State government.
Lanlehin, in a press release by Lanre Ogundipe, Director, Media, Publicity and Protocol, Handshake Campaign Organisation (HCO), maintained that such deliberate and willful actions, against an important segment of the society, do not bode well for productivity, staff motivation and societal harmony.
Whilst commenting on the backdrop of the three day warning strike embarked by the State’s workers and the serial agitations by state owned tertiary institution workers, over months of unpaid salaries, as well as the deluge of debts owed in form of pensions and gratuities, Lanlehin wondered what Gov Ajimobi was celebrating by thumping his chest to say “he is fulfilled.”
“What manner of fulfillment is that?”, Lanlehin asked.
Recall that Lagos Times had reported that, the state workforce, under the aegis of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC), had embarked on a three-day warning strike last week over what it termed non-implementation of the 2012-2016 promotion approved by the state government. The strike was declared owing to the failure of the state government to give the promotion financial backing since its approval last year.
Also, Lagos Times reported that non academic staff union of the state owned polytechnic embarked on a protest over unpaid salary arrears.
Lanlehin, berating the Oyo State government for issuing promotion letters to workers without adequate financial backing, and for stopping further promotions, argued that in line with the Oyo State APC led government’s tradition of consistently being against the people, the ruling party does not care if workers, who constitute a formidable constituency in the state, continue to be so treated with contempt.
“Treating pensioners with disdain, to the point where the men and women, who had contributed their quota to the development of the state, were now forced to resort to litigation was very unfortunate,” Lanlehin lamented.
“What manner of government wakes up one day, and tells tertiary institutions to be self financing?” Lanlehin queried.
According to the governorship hopeful, withdrawal of subventions to these institutions, coupled with the non-release of capital grants to them, has all but stifled the institutions, leading to their inability to pay salaries of almost 27 months.
He assured Oyo State workers, both active and retired, that his own government, if elected, represented by the ADC, would listen to them, and lead by their support.
“Payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, would be non-negotiable, and indeed, would be the centerpiece of my administration’s plans and policies”, he said.
Lanlehin added that from consultations with different category of workers in the state, the problems facing workers have been highlighted, and the solutions to be proffered are already known, and would be implemented once he gets the reins of power.
He subsequently urged them to remain committed in carrying out their legitimate duties, promising that “in yet a little while, the good times will return”.