We Pay Workers Salaries Ahead Of Federal Government –Osun Commissioner

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Osun State Commissioner for Political Affairs and Inter governmental Relations, Hon. Taiwo Akeju, has disclosed that the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola ensures prompt payment of salary to civil servants because the governor is passionate about the welfare of workers.

Akeju who described Governor Gboyega Oyetola as a man of honour, said despite the crushing financial storm the state is experiencing as a result of the national financial meltdown, the relationship between the state and labour is still strong and intact.

The Political Affairs Commissioner made this known while playing host to the newly elected executives of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in his office on Wednesday.

Hon Taiwo Akeju and Members of IPAC during the visitation

He noted that since the inception of Oyetola led administration, Osun workers have been receiving their monthly salaries ahead of the federal government’s civil servants.

He said there has never been a sector that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola has not touched, adding that his developmental achievements cut across every sector.

“Our Governor is a peace loving man. He is very passionate about the welfare of the people of the state and I know his work is speaking for him. He has touched every sector in the state.

“We are paying salary ahead of federal government because Governor Gboyega Oyetola is not a wasteful Governor.

“Look at the infrastructural development. Hiw he is managing to use the little resources accrued to the state to achieve a lot is not by magic but rather, he manages what comes in by not engaging in wasteful spending,” he noted.

While appealing to the members of IPAC on the need to support the present administration in its bid to take the state to the greater heights, Akeju commended them for comporting themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after their election saying the government would do everything within its reach to ensure they are being carried along in governance.

“I want to commend you for comporting yourselves peacefully before, during and after your election. And I can assure you that we are ready to welcome ideas that can help in moving the state forward.

“This is an open government. Our government is very open, we will welcome advice, if you have any plan, idea and input that can make the state to move forward, we will welcome it. We will welcome genuine ideas, and we are ready to support you. We are ready to collaborate with you. We all own the state and we are all stakeholders,” the Commissioner added.

Akeju then, urged members of executive to extend hands of fellowship to other members of IPAC urging them to work together with those who contested but lost the election.

Speaking, the Chairman of IPAC, Mr Adebayo Summon Adewale said the purpose of their visitation was to present members of the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC) to the state government, as a measure to kick start their commitment to achieving IPAC objectives.

Adewale said: “Meeting with you today your Excellency, is not just a political ritual that must be carried out, but a complimentary, purposeful act to see you carried along in the affairs of the council which by extension you are a part of, and also as a sign of honour as being the number one citizen of the great state

“This team seated with me are men of like minds, with the sole intention of seeing development come to this historical State of ours. It is our foremost priority to revive the political institution of the state to a standard where other States can come and take a clue from.

“Seated here are people of different political parties, but have come to a common consensus that building up Osun state is bigger than any personal ambition or political Ideologies or paradigm. We have therefore come to register our intents to begin this journey within the confinement of the constitution and the laws of IPAC.

“Your Excellency Sr, IPAC Osun is experiencing a new dawn of democratic Involvements and the era of political tranquility. To achieve our aims, we have come up with our nine (9) point mandate which will be presented to you at the end of this

“Let me state here that we may not always agree on every style of governance and ideologies, but our mode of communicating our views on matters will be constructive and not destructive.

“Your Excellency sir, in furtherance of our course, we would like to appeal for the provision of a secretariat for IPAC. The integrity of a body like IPAC is grounded when there is a physical structure where correspondence and feedbacks can be generated and accessed. We do not just want to be floating around. With a Secretariat, we will be able to administer our operational duties with ease and comfort

“Secondly, we will be needing a bus for conveying members around during council assignments and operations within the state. We believe with the availability of these attainment of our goals becomes much more feasible

“Finally, your Excellency sir. I wish on behalf of the team to tender our sincere gratitude for making this meeting a possibility. It has truly demonstrated a heart of a true leader, and we ask that this continues as we jointly bring development to our land,” he added.

In his comment, Pastor Popoola Olatunji, Publicity Secretary of IPAC said that the people at the helm of affairs of IPAC are full of ideas that can help take the state to greater heights.