NEWLY sworn in governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has assured workers in the state that “for as long as you are not been paid your salaries for that long, your governor too cannot be paid his salary.”
This is just as the governor is set to set up a committee to look into the seven months’ salary backlog owed by the state government.
Akeredolu who made this pledge in Akure, Ondo State capital while formally meeting with the workers in the state civil service also appealed to the workers in the health sector to suspend their strike action and give room to dialogue on how to ensure payment of their salaries.
The governor said that all issues relating to payment of salaries would top his agenda as he assumed office and disclosed that a committee would be put in place by the government to address how the backlog of salaries would be paid and how to move the state forward.
Akeredolu said “I am aware of your pains and agony. I feel your pains and what you are going through, and I can see your sufferings that you are still able to put up these smiles as I can see everybody here without seven months salaries, I am surprised. No doubt, a labourer deserves his wages.
“A committee will soon be set up to address this salary issue, we are set to move forward and at the end of the day we will all win. Let’s join our hands to work together for the development of this state and I can assure you that with God on our side, we shall scale all obstacles to make Ondo great.”
He vowed not to receive any salary until he was able to put smiles on the faces of the workers, saying “For as long as you are not been paid your salaries for that long, your governor too cannot be paid his salary. A governor should not earn salaries when others are owed salaries.”
Akeredolu however solicited for the people’s support, urging them to be patient with his government and sustain the peace in the state saying “any act of thuggery will not find a place in this state.”
He said “I don’t need anybody’s two arms: they will see a different governor. I am particular about the touts going to work, not going to the street begging and disturbing the lives of the people. We will put an end to it.
All I need from the civil servants in the state is dedication. I want dedicated workers, you are the engine room of any government, with you, we can make Ondo State a better place. What I need is workers who are ready to work with me to move the state forward and I want you all to be prepared to work with me.”
He lamented the untapped bitumen resources in the state, assuring the people that in about two years, “we will be exporting bitumen” and pledged that Federal Government will commence cocoa rejuvenation in the state before March.
Akeredolu stressed the need to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy, calling on young graduates and idle hands in the state who engaged in street-begging and other vices to explore the opportunities available in the sector.
He however urged people to always say the truth, admitting that no human being is perfect, but said “be critical of your governor, be critical about our government but be constructive in your criticisms. We will run an open government.”
“We shall move forward, and we shall all team together to Ondo State forward. Let us be patient with this government, I beg all of you let us work together, we shall move forward.”