Osun State Head of Service, Oyebade Olowogboyega, has assured workers in the state that all arears of salaries owed them would be paid as soon as economy of the state improves.
In recent weeks, tension has been on the rise between government and workers, following insistence by the leadership of the Organised Labour in the state that workers would no longer accept modulated salary starting from November.
At the last meeting held between the two parties, but labour leaders, it was learnt, turned down the dinner prepared for them, despite pleadings from the Head of Service.
At the meeting, NLC leaders were said to have insisted on payment of full salary to workers beginning from November, while government team pleaded with workers to persevere for few more months and accept the modulated arrangement under which workers on grade levels 1 to 7 get full salary while those on 8 to 10 and 12 above get 75% and 50% respectively.
But, speaking at the closing ceremony of the Training Programme for Information Officers, Graphic Artists and Photographers organised by the state Ministry of Information and Strategy, in Osogbo, Olowogboyega said Governor Aregbesola has never claimed he would not pay arrears of salaries due to the workers.
He said under atmosphere of peace, the present administration would not only make workers and retirees happy, it would also continue with massive rehabilitation of infrastructural amenities.
Delivering a paper on the topic: “Essence of Government Information Officer in A Democratic Government”, former Nigeria ambassador to Philippine, Dr. Yemi Farombi, told the participants to motivate themselves and perform at optimum level at all times.
He also advised them to build trust in their colleagues and ensure their political heads have robust relationships with newsmen to prevent breakdown of communication.
“It is only natural that in a well functioning democracy, where the media plays a vital oversight role, there will be tension between reporters and public officials responsible for providing information.
“Information officers need to work continuously at building a relationship of trust between the two parties, impart by prompting mutual appreciation of the fact that reporters need information officers and vice versa”, Farombi concluded.
In his goodwill message, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adelani Baderinwa, promised to, from time to time, ensure training and retraining of people responsible for promoting activities of government.
He said the state government would continue to place high premium on workers’ motivation and welfare, stressing the need for them to reciprocate the gesture through increase productivity and dedication to duties.
BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Osogbo
