By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
Workers in Ondo state have urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to block leakages in revenue in the state by adopting the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for the purpose of adequate monitoring and accountability.
The state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Oluwole Adeleye, said this on Sunday at the 2022 Worker’s Day rally in Akure.
According to him, workers might resumed receiving percentage salaries if the state government does not shore up its revenue.
Adeleye said this is because a funding facility tagged ‘Bridging Facility’ offered States to shore-up salary payment from November, 2021 ended in April, 2022.
The NLC Chairman who was represented by his Deputy, Victor Amoko, posited that the facility ‘greatly helped the State Government to paying 100per cent salaries in the last five months.
He, however, said workers could only pray to God for divine intervention and rescue even as he urged Governor Akeredolu to look inward and helped the situation.
He lamented the non-payment of salary to staff of the state owned tertiary institutions especially the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic which had outstanding salaries of 12 months.
Adeleye also called on workers in the state to get their Permanent Voter Cards in order to be armed with the power to choose rightly at next year’s general elections.
Speaking in the same vein, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Hellen Odofin, demanded payment of salary arrears from December 2021 till date including outstanding leave bonuses.
While Governor Akeredolu, in his speech said about 4,279 personnel had been recruited into various critical sectors of the Public Service from 2017 to date while over 3,532 eligible workers of different categories have been slated for promotion this year.
According to him, his administration has put aside the obnoxious practice which encouraged partisan politics and truncate the careers of committed public servants by determining promotion of public servant on merit.
Akeredolu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, said he would explored every available means to ensure that he met the obligations of paying workers salaries, pensions and gratuities, and subventions as and when due, despite the paucity of fund and the dwindling federal allocation.
He, therefore, urged all public servants to adopt a new attitude towards the business of governance by showing high sense of productiveness and creativity in carrying out their duties.