Don tasks govts, employers on prompt payment of employees’ entitlements
Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo of the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Thursday advised government at all levels and other employers of labour to ensure prompt payment of entitlements and benefits accrued to employees.
Ninalowo gave the advice during a Valedictory Lecture organised in his honour as he retired from UNILAG.
The lecture was titled: “Continuties on Legitimation Crisis and the Human Condition.”
Ninalowo said that employers should deem it as their legal and moral obligations to ensure entitlements and benefits of employees were given to them promptly.
He said this should be done upon retirement or other forms of termination of employment as it remained a key area through which corrupt practices could be effectively curbed.
He noted that this was also one of the measures through which legitimation crisis in the nation could be tackled.
He also said that there was great need for adjustment and upgrade of incentives and reward structures in workplaces across the African continent.
According to him, this is necessary to keep the structure in alignment with inflationary pressures and attendant high cost of living.
Ninalowo noted that the nation’s legitimation crisis could be tackled when there was true devolution and decentralisation of power, re-orientation of political values, separation of powers, mass media autonomy, upgrading formal education and the health sector.
“To forestall authoritarian tendencies and limit abuse in appropriation of authority and power, it is necessary to put into practice devolution and decentralisation of power.
“The ruling elites across Africa must re-orientate their mindset to harbor political and ideational values to serve the people selflessly in accordance with benevolent interests of the citizenry.
“The supremacy and enforcement of the rule of law should be deemed as sacrosanct and inviolable, this is crucial in ensuring the sanctity of fundamental human rights, thereby mitigating possibilities for legitimation crisis,” he said.
Earlier, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, described Ninalowo as a problem solver.
“Prof. Ninalowo says things the way it is and proffers solutions to problems promptly, I celebrate your achievements in the academic space and wish you the best,” he said.
Also, Prof. Chinwe Nwanna of the Department of Social Work, said, “He is my mentor, he made me realise that the academia does not only entail hardwork but also series of publications.
“He encouraged me at different points of my career development, through his mentorship, I have been able to improve my administrative skill.”
Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye of Mass Communications Department, described Ninalowo as a scholar par excellence.
