The
state Government of Osun on Thursday denounced the rumours making the round
that the current administration has concluded plans to tactically retrench
workers in the state through compulsory leave order given recently.
The
government said the order was necessary in view of the constitutional rights of
every worker to benefit leave yearly as enshrined in the civil service rules.
The
State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola debunked the rumours while addressing
people during the official commissioning of a new secretariat complex of Iwo
East Local Council Development Area, LCDA, built and donated for use by a
prominent indigene of the new LCDA, Chief Abiola Ogundokun.
Aregbesola,
who described workers in the state as the life-wire of socio-economic
development, said on no account has his administration contemplated reducing
the workforce.
He
said the move was not meant to either hurt or dehumanize any worker but rather
to strengthen the laid down civil service rules in a bid to enhance greater
productivity and effectiveness.
Aregbesola
reaffirmed that in spite the effects of the current economic recession, the
state under his watch would not for any reason depopulate workforce in the
state.
According
to him, the decision was reached having been informed of the accumulated leave
of some of the top officials in the state civil service.
He
said the state has been working round the clock to fix the economy through
diversification so as to further ensure stability in governance.
"It
is disheartening that some people have become perpetual rumour peddlers. They
never live by the truth but rather deriving pleasure from spreading propaganda
and falsehood.
"Our
administration has never intended to sack any worker. We never aimed to
retrench or reduce workforce. This is what we built and we can never collapse
it.
"Our
directive on compulsory leave was in line with the operational framework that
established civil service. We only enforced it because we felt that those
affected were due for leave.
"As
we all know, leave is a work-relief benefit for workers and it is expected of
every worker that is due for it to do so.
"In
view of this, our government's action was aimed at ensuring that those workers
benefit from their accumulated leave from 2014 till date.
"We
are not sacking any worker under pretense as being rumoured but rather
enforcing the conventional rules and civil service principles.
Aregbesola
warned disgruntled politicians to do away with propaganda, falsehood that could
bring about disaffection in the state.
He
also called on the opposition to always help government with constructive
criticisms that can ginger government towards perfection.
"We
shall remain focused in all our developmental and life-transforming programmes
to ensure that we produce man that would be useful not only for himself or
family but for the state and country at large
.
"Our
government is moving towards socio-economic prosperity and democratic stability
that favours all-round transformation, growth and development.
He
commended Ogundokun for donating the administrative building, saying the
gestures would go a long way to further strengthen affinity and intimacy
between the people and government at the grassroots.
He
said the new LCDAs were created to protect the general interests of the people
by making government more closer to them.
Earlier,
the donor, commended the state government for creating additional local
government areas in line with the wishes of the people.
Ogundokun
called on the communities where the new councils are located to take good
advantage of them.
He
said, "I appreciate the state government under the able leadership of
Governor Rauf Aregbesola for working assiduously towards ensuring speedy and
even development of all parts of the state.
"Aregbesola
is doing his best humanly possible even at this time when it requires ingenious
and creative capacity for a courageous and visionary leadership to deliver good
results because of the tough and hostile economic climate foisted on us by
unpredictable factors.
"Governor
Aregbesola deserves commendation for initiating and executing series of capital
projects, despite serious economic recession.
"I
have personally monitored these projects and my conclusion is that the projects
have the potency of laying a solid foundation for future development of our
state.
The
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewake Akanbi, also commended Governor Aregbesola
for his landmark projects while also lauding Ogundokun for his selfless service
to the community.
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Politics