Minimum wage: ODSG sets up committee

Ondo State Government has set up an Internal Committee to dialogue with Labour Unions and collate data for the state government to enhance seamless implementation of the new minimum wage after the conclusion of the ongoing negotiation between the Federal Government and the Joint National Service Negotiating Council.

The Permanent Secretary of the Department of Establishment and Training, Mr Victor Olajorin declared this while playing host to members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, Establishment and Service Matters in his office in Akure.

Mr Olajorin reiterated the commitment of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to sustaining the cordial relationship between his administration and the leadership of the Labour Unions by initiating quarterly meetings with the State Joint Negotiating Council where representatives of the various labour unions were always informed about the policies and programmes of his administration to avoid industrial crisis in the state.

According to a statement from Media Manager, office of Head of Service, Williams Oni  informed members of the Committee that the Department is responsible for recruitment, transfer, promotion, discipline as well as the custodian of the rules and regulations guiding civil servants in all Ministries and Extra Ministerial Departments of the state.

He added that the Department is also saddled with the responsibility of training and retraining of government workers with the aim of improving their efficiency and productivity.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr  Oladiji Adesanmi said they came to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Department in order to work in harmony with the Legislature for the benefit of the people of the state

Adesanmi and other members of the Committee spoke on issues of overstaffing across Local Government Councils in the state, Casual Workers in government establishments and the need to inform the House on any recruitment exercise that would take place in the state.

In a related development, the Department of Service Matters under the State Head of Service has organized an in-house training workshop for its member of staff with a view to actualising the vision of the Head of Service to reposition the state Civil Service for excellent service delivery.

The Permanent Secretary of the Department, Mr Bayo Philip said the training was meant to sharpen the skills of the staffers, re-orientate them on the ethical values of the civil service and enhance positive change of attitude in the performance of their duties.

Educating the workers on the change mantra being advocated by the Head of Service, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Establishment and Training, Mr Victor Olajorin who is the Resource Person at the workshop, charged the workers to rededicate themselves to punctuality, timeliness, integrity and good character.

Mr Olajorin enjoined them to improve on their communication skills, acquaint themselves with their schedules of duty and exhibit good interpersonal relationship to ensure stability as well as increase productivity of the civil servants.

He warned that the state government would no longer tolerate lateness, indolence and improper filing of appraisal forms for promotion of officers.