Workers Welfare: Akeredolu Gets Encomium From NULGE

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees,NULGE on Friday commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for not meddling with the monthly allocation and other funds meant for local governments in Ondo state.

NULGE President,Comrade Bola Taiwo,stated this during the inauguration and Thanksgiving ceremony of the newly elected executives of the union held in Akure, the state capital.

Taiwo expressed the need to acknowledge and appreciate Akeredolu’s style of leadership, forthrightness and concern for the welfare of local government workers and grassroots development.

Bola commended the governor for prompt payment of workers salaries, staff promotion and payment of leave bonus among others.

He also appreciated him for giving freedom to the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) to perform their statutory duties.

“Is the fact that state government under the leadership of Gov. Akeredolu does not temper with funds meant for the local government in the state.

“Just as the Ondo state governor is the first in the whole of South West Nigeria to fully comply with the National Financial Intelligence Unit(NFIU) directives.

“These are laudable feats in governance and we hold ourselves as we owing our dear Akeredolu a renewed pledge of allegiance and unalloyed loyalty.

The NULGE president, who expressed gratitude to members of the Union and other stakeholders for the roles played during his election, said that the election was the first time the union had a transition process that was completed without any rancour.

“In the not too distant past, our elections were usually marred with conflicts, at time with violent dimension or even records of fatality.

“The peace witnessed in this particular transition is made possible by the efforts of the national leadership and other stakeholders of the union who have decided to practice unionism in manners that are departure from what obtained in the past.

“However, more importantly and strategic to peaceful NULGE during this time is the contribution of your Excellency. Unlike in the past, government interference in union politicking was not experienced during the last election into union elective offices.”

Bola said, “these granted local government workers the freedom to vote into office people of their choice without any fear of intimidation from high offices. This is unprecedented, your Excellency and for this, we say thank you sir.”

He, therefore promised the support of the local government workers for Governor Akeredolu.

In a remark, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu assured local government workers in the state his commitment to pursue and continue to pay their salaries, allowances, regular promotion and carrier development.

Akeredolu, who was represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Mrs Lola Fagbemi, said that the recent verification exercises of workers in the local government was not meant to witch hurt workers but to sensitize and to improve workers welfare.

“We will not hesitate to be first governor to implement the NFIU and also we will not be the last state to implement and pay minimum wage.

“Recently we had a verification exercises, that exercise was not meant to witch hurt anybody or send some workers packing. It was just meant to sensitize and to strength the record of local government workers with a few to improve their welfare,” he said.

Akeredolu, therefore, implored all local government workers to improve in their productions and blocking all source of linkages in their areas.

“In a local government of staff 1,002 members,hardly can you meet 50 or 100 persons, others where are they?.

“We must increase your out put, you are not working for Akeredolu but you are working for people in the state, whatever you do at your little corner will affect the people, so we beg you as government is commitment to your welfare reciprocate that by increasing you productivity,” the governor said.

During the ceremony, AWARD OF EXCELLENT AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRANSFORMATION AGENT was bestowed on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE AWARD was bestowed on the State Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mrs Lola Fagbemi while MAN OF SUBSTANCE AWARD was bestowed on the Chairman, Ondo state Local Government Service Commission, Mr Femi Idris.