Oyo govt, workers close ranks

By Akin Durodola - 03.01.2008

Oyo State government and its workers have entered into partnership with both parties renewing their pledges to serve the state better in 2008.

At the inter-religious service on Wednesday to mark the New Year, the state governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the wokers promised to work harmoniously for the betterment of the state.

At the event held at the governor’s office, Chief Alao-Akala pledged to rule the state with the fear of God, while the workers, led by the Head of Service, Dr. Ebenezer Okebukola, pledged to support the govenment and be dedicated to duty.

Workers in the state and the government, for about three months last year, were at loggerheads over the payment of minimum wage as approved by the immediate past government of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, but which the government of Alao-Akala described as outrageous.

But at the service on Wednesday, they said such an ugly incident would not rear its head this year. Chief Alao-Akala thanked the workers for their contributions in moving the state forward in 2007.

He urged them to rededicate themselves to the service of the state “by implementing faithfully, the projects and programmes envisioned and articulated by the present administration in the state to liberate the teeming masses of the state from poverty, hunger and hopelessness.”

He promised to continue to motivate public servants to realise their potentials and attain optimum performance, while also appealing to them to take the issue of Internally Generated Revenue seriously as government could not rely solely on funds from the Federation Account.