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Osun: Adeleke approves N2.9bn pension bond

Osun state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Thursday approved the release of another Two Billion, Nine Hundred Million naira pension bond for the retirees in the state civil service with a pledge to be more committed to the state civil servants’ plights.

The governor who pledged while speaking at an event Organised by the entire workforce of the public service in the state, where he was conferred with an award of the most humane Governor of the Year in Osogbo said, he was again deeply overwhelmed by the show of love and support from great Osun workers and retirees saying, “, the outpouring of affection for me and my team has further rekindled my faith in our five-point agenda for which workers’ welfare is number one.”

“Some months ago, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners conferred on me the award of the most workers’ friendly governor. I was told that was the first time the union would grant such honour to a serving Governor. Here we are today again with the entire workforce of the public service acknowledging our modest contributions to the development of our dear state.”

“The positive testimonies from the various unions and labour leaders attested to the correctness of our original thinking when running for the state governorship. We had analyzed the political space and concluded then that the smartest way to grow Osun is workers’ welfare. We accept and adopt the reality that human capital is a strong foundation for integrated development of the state.”

“We had also spotted the nexus between formal and informal workers in the state. Easing the challenges of public service tends to uplift the economic well-being of the informal sector. These analyses were responsible for placing workers’ welfare as the number one priority in our governance agenda.

“We are vindicated today as the workforce has validated our approach to governance. This vindication has challenged our team to remain focused and engaged in our relentless drive for new life for our people. I long to expand our capacity to meet the needs of the people, to deploy human development as a tool for societal transformation. We will further innovate as a government to meet workers at the point of their needs.
“I therefore humbly accept this award as “The Most Humane Governor of the Year”.

” Dear workers and stakeholders, I cherish this honour done to me and my team. You have further fired our existing strong interest in welfare issues for both serving and retired members of the workforce. ”

“It is in this direction that I have further approved the release of another tranche of bonds totaling Two Billion , Nine Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Five kobo (N2,925,332,835.75).

“The breakdown is as follows:
State Retirees – One Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira (N1,300,000,000.00)”

“LG /Primary School Retirees- One Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Naira(1,625,332,835,75)”

He however commended the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina for being dedicated to work and been a wonderful leader of the civil service with laudable delivery in public service management.

“I extend the same commendation to top management of the service as well as middle and lower level officers. I appreciate your commitment to duty and loyalty to our common agenda for societal prosperity.

“We remain strongly pro-people, pro-workers and pro-development. We will continue to combine welfare of the people and workers with state of the art infra upgrades of our dear state. Osun is targeted to be a Singapore of Nigeria, the Governor noted.”

In his own remark, the state Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina said, the event is not just an award but that the giving out of another Two Billion, Nine Hundred Million naira pension bond made the gathering a unique one.”

“Your Excellency, the entire workforce of Osun State and retirees have a lot to celebrate today as we rejoice with You on the conferment of this well-deserved award by the Labour Leaders in the State on you.

“Experience has shown very clearly that there is a wide gap between campaign promises and the actual delivery of dividends of democracy. The case of our amiable Governor is a radical departure from this position as workers and retirees have continued to benefit from the kindness of the Governor. You indeed displayed great character and integrity by fulfilling your campaign promises to the workers and pensioners in the State in many areas:

“Prior to the advent of your Administration in the State, senior workers were owed several months of unpaid half salaries, a situation that came to the national limelight. Believing that governance is a continuum, your administration has been consistently offsetting these backlog of salary and pension arrears. As we speak, four months arrears have been paid to date

“Your administration cash-backed arrears of promotions from the previous Administrations which were in millions of naira

“You broke the age long jinx of aberration of Coordinating Directors as career heads of MDAs by appointing qualified civil servants as Permanent Secretaries, an action that brought life back to the entire Civil Service. You have said this is a continuous exercise

“You have consistently approved release of fund for officers to embark on professional training to enhance their performances at work

“You have ensured regular and consistent payment of full salaries and pension without hindrance”, he submitted.

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