The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NLSU) has described Governor Oyetola as first among equals.
This was made known on Thursday at a ceremony to award the State of Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola as a Workers’ -Friendly Governor’s Award.
The Union eulogized the governor for restoring hope to the Osun State workforce with the prompt payment of workers salaries and other workers friendly policies.
In his acceptance speech, Oyetola commended the leadership and members of the union for their support of his administration since he took over the mantle of leadership in the State.
‘’I appreciate the National leadership of the Nigeria Civil Service Union for the visit and welcome you formally to Osun. I equally thank you for choosing Osun as the host for the South-West Zonal meeting.’’
‘’As a government, we have been enjoying the hands of fellowship from our workers since we came on board and I must confess to you that I am overwhelmed by the show of love which you all displayed. Our government is workers friendly. We have been partners in progress. Labour played a significant role in my emergence as the candidate of our party and subsequently my emergence as the governor of the state.
‘’ As you all know, our government has been fulfilling its promise made to ensure the payment of full salaries as and when due. We have also not failed in our responsibility to ensure payment of full pensions and gratuities regularly since 2018, including gradual clearing of the backlog of arrears inherited.’’.
The workers’- friendly Governor goes further, ‘’ We have provided robust Health Insurance Scheme for our workers and our administration has also upgraded over 200 members of staff of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital just as we also pardoned 962 civil servants who had been penciled for demotion for embarking on further studies without approval.
‘’ And above all, we are paying minimum wage despite the obvious economic challenges in the country. These and many others are being done by our government to show that we value our workers and will never do anything to undermine their welfare.
‘’ We are going to do more for workers. You have demonstrated that you are good partner in progress. I am very honoured today by the presence of your members who came from far and near.’’.
‘’It is, therefore, a very cherished honour that will no doubt continue to boost our resolve to constantly put our teeming workers first.
I wish to once again thank you all for finding me worthy of this honour. It is a call to do more for our hardworking workers and for the people of our great State. I shall not disappoint you,’’ he added
He therefore dedicated the award to the good people of the State, particularly workers for their unflinching and unalloyed support.
Speaking on behalf of the members of the Union, the National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi lauded the tremendous achievements the administration has recorded in the last two and half years.
In his remarks, Amaechi described Governor Oyetola as the ‘best among equals in the country and noted that the Union would continue to be grateful for the good gesture the administration had extended to workers so far.
According to him, it was good to celebrate the inimitable hands of fellowship being extended to workers in the State by the Oyetola led administration.
‘’We have been following the progress of union across the country, and Osun stood out as a State where the welfare of workers was attended to without negotiation.
‘’We are grateful to you because you have done very well since taking over leadership responsibility. We know what you inherited, but today, the story is different because workers across the State are happy.
It is on record that Osun State is among the States where we did not negotiate before the minimum wage was approved and paid to workers.
‘I give kudos to the governor for keeping faith with the workers’ welfare. I was here a few years ago, but I could not see smiles on the faces of our colleagues because they were being paid half salaries and owed. But we thank God that today, they receive their salaries and pension in full.’’
It is in recognition of this, that we were resolved to give you an award because of your good deeds and excellent performance across sectors of the economy.
I am here today to join my members not because of anything, but because you have demonstrated leadership that caters for the interest of all, most importantly, the workforce’’.
In fact, you have done very well in Osun. We don’t just give awards to people, but to those that deserve it. You deserve. That is why we have resolved to give you as a show of appreciation for your resilience, doggedness, commitment and passion for the socio-economic development and general welfare of the people, particularly workers in Osun.
He said, ‘that workers in Osun State have been the light through Governor Oyetola’s commitment to good governance. He, therefore, promise theUnion’s continued cooperation and loyalty to advance the state, he added.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) Comrade Jacob Adekomi, and State Chairman, Joint Negotiation Council. Comrade, Bayo Adeyemo appreciated the governor for promoting the welfare of workers in theState.
In his own remarks, the Head of Service of the State, Dr Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade, lauded Oyetola for being passionate about everything that concerns the welfare and well-being of workers. According to him, Oyetolahas proved himself as a father beyond the call of his official duties. No leader in the history of Osun has accomplished what Oyetola has done in terms of relationship with workers. He lives by the principles of recognizing the other person, not just by names but by needs. He is a very disciplined man with money, materials and resources’’, Oyelade said.
Dignitaries at the occasion include the Governor’s wife, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, the deputy governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, Speaker of the Osun State House of assembly, Honourable Timothy Owoeye, some members of the Osun State House of assembly, Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Abdulah Binuyo, some State Executive Council members, some members of the State Civil Service, labour leaders and a host of others.