Workers’ Day: Akeredolu approves car loans for teachers

By Adekola Afolabi
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The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has approved car loans for primary school teachers in the state.

The approval followed the request made by the organized labour unions in the state led by the NLC chairman, Comrade Sunday Adeleye, during their visit to the governor at the Government House Grounds, Akure, to mark the 2020 May Day.

During the visit, the 2020 May Day position paper was also presented to the governor by the organized labour leaders.

Governor Akeredolu who particularly appreciated the workers in the state for their understanding and support, equally assured them that his administration would pay the outstanding one month arrears of salary and pension, which is the last of the seven months arrears inherited from the previous administration.

According to the governor, the remaining one month arrears would be paid before the end of his first tenure in office even if he will take loan to offset it.

The Governor explained that his administration had appointed 41 Permanent Secretaries based on merit and seniority in the civil service coupled with regular promotion of deserving workers and improved welfare of workers across the state.

He revealed that his administration has promoted deserving workers during the last 2019 promotion exercise, just as the 2020 promotion exercise has equally begun.

Governor Akeredolu also promised to continue the training and retraining of workers to improve their productivity and efficiency.

He noted that he has already approved payment of 33% pension increase for retirees in the state due to his strategic love to improve the living standard of the senior citizens.

 “We will continue to pay pension and gratuities, but is not as consistent as we have loved it to be. But I can assure you, we will continue to pay. We will try as much as possible to put more money there, so that more people will get their pension and gratuities,” he stated.

On recruitment of workforce, the Governor noted that officers in some critical areas, like doctors and nurses have been recruited for improved health care service delivery across the state.

He used the occasion to appreciate all health workers in the state for doing a great work despite facing life and death, just as he thanked God that the 3rd Coronavirus case in the state, a medical doctor, has been discharged after testing negative twice.

Governor Akeredolu assured that more Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) would be provided for the health workers to further protect them while saving lives.

The governor who expressed concern over the increasing cases of the deadly COVID-19 in the state, however, expressed the readiness of the government to contain its spread and also managed and treat those who contracted the virus.

He appealed to anybody who might have contracted the virus not to hide his or her status to prevent community spread, saying COVID-19 is not a death sentence.

“If anybody has it, come out on time, it is not a death sentence. It is not leprosy. At times, our people don’t want ambulance to come and pick them. Some people will say they don’t want their neighbours to know. What is there? Governors have had it, so why are you now afraid?

“Anybody can have it. So, our people should not hide it. Present yourself on time and you will get well; people are getting well in our facility. So, if you have it, come out for treatment, don’t hide, nobody will stigmatize you”, the governor stressed.

Earlier, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sunday Adeleye, expressed appreciation to the governor for approving 33% pension increase.