The Osun State Government is committed to workers’ welfare, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said yesterday.
He also spoke on his administration’s strategy to sustain the tempo of mutual relationship between the government and the workers.
The governor stated these yesterday at the delegates’ conference of the Osun State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Osogbo, the state capital.
The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, expressed confidence in the governor’s ability to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens.
Oyetola, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Charles Diji Akinola, said in spite of the economic reality, his administration had consistently enjoyed hands of fellowship from the workforce, hence the need to continue to ensure a high standard of living for all categories of workers.
He said Osun workers were a model in contemporary labour relations.
Declaring the conference open, Oyetola said: “If, despite the crushing financial storm the state is experiencing as a result of the national financial meltdown, the relationship between the state and Labour is still strong and intact as it is today. We can confidently say that Osun State Labour is a model in contemporary labour relations, which emphasises dialogue and constructive engagement over and above confrontation.
“I regard the character and nature of Osun State Labour as a reflection and extension of the state’s Omoluabi ethos and I am proud of them.
“On our part as an administration, we shall continue to strive to prioritise workers’ welfare, we shall be unrelenting in finding creative means of delivering good welfare to our workers within our limited resources.”
NLC National President Ayuba Wabba, who spoke through a representative, appealed to the state government to domesticate the payment of the newly approved minimum wage to workers.
The state NLC Chairman hailed the Oyetola administration for being committed to the welfare of workers. He also hailed the state government for stopping the deductions on car and housing loans for officers, who he said would have finished paying, if not for payment of modulated salaries.
Source: The Nation