Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said that his administration would
soon begin a verification exercise to get the actual number of workers
on the government’s payroll.
This followed what he described as “sudden rise” in the state’s wage bill.
Although, he didn’t give details of when the exercise would begin, the
governor said the effort is solely for the purpose of knowing the
number of the workforce.
The governor spoke during an interactive session with the civil
servants as part of events marking the first 100 days of his
administration.
Justifying the need for the workers verification exercise, he said he
observed that between the time he was declared winner of the
governorship election and the day he took his oath of office, the
state wage bill had increased by a billion naira.
Makinde, however, assured the workers that the verification is not
aimed at witch-hunting anyone, saying despite the increased wage bill,
his administration has continued to make the payment of workers’
salaries and their welfare a priority.
He said “We will soon conduct a verification exercise to get the
accurate number of the state workforce. The verification is not to
witch-hunt any worker and so we will only solicit your support and
cooperation for the success of the exercise.
“The reason for the exercise is because we observed that between March
11, when I was declared the winner of the governorship election and
May 29 when I was sworn in as the governor, the wage bill of the
workers increased by N1billion.
“But, despite this, we are paying workers’ salaries without delay
because their welfare is paramount to this administration.
“Our monthly federal allocation is a little above N5 billion, but we
pay over N8 billion as wages every month.
“The good news is that the monthly federal allocation into local
government councils is above N5 billion and their monthly wage bill is
a little bit above N3 billion.
“We can easily save N2 billion into local government councils account
and presently we have been able to save N8 billion.
“I want to assure you all that no worker will be unjustly punished or
sacked because the era of impunity has gone. This administration will
follow due process and civil service rules in any issue that pertains
to the workers.”
The governor added that his administration will be committed to
governance that is free of politics and religion, adding that “no
worker will be discriminated against on the basis of religion or
politics.”
He urged the workers to be committed to their duties and advised any
civil servant who has anything to discuss with him to reach him on the
phone.
Head of Service Mrs. Amidat Agboola had hailed the governor on behalf
of the workers for what she described as “consistency” in the prompt
payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ allowances.
She took the opportunity to inform the workers that the governor had
given approval for the upward review of car and housing loan scheme
from N500, 000 to N750, 000 and from N2 million to N3 million, urging
the workers to be dedicated and loyal.
