By Abdul Alli
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Monday pledged to constitute a committee to look into the seven months outstanding salaries of workers left behind by the previous administration.
Akeredolu made the pledge when he met with workers at the Governor’s Park in Akure.
The governor, who told the workers that he was aware of their sufferings, assured them that the matter would be promptly addressed with the setting up of the committee.
Akerdolu also pledged that workers’ welfare would be given utmost priority by his administration.
He appealed to the striking health workers to exercise patience and return to the negotiation table to solve the problem on ground.
“I know you have reasons for your strike; it must be out of your concern for your patients, out of your concern for the people of the state and not out of your concern for your pockets,’’ Akeredolu said.
He urged the workers to cooperate with the new government and support it to succeed in all its endeavours, promising to be receptive to their suggestions and ideas.
“Our administration will grow a civil service that will be the envy of all by training and re-training of workers that will later enhance our productivity,” the governor said.
Akeredolu said that his administration would revive moribund industries such as Cocoa Processing Industry, Idanre and the Rubber Plantation in Araromi, Odigbo, within the next two years.
The Head of Service in the state, Mr Toyin Akinkuotu, promised the governor that the entire workforce was ready to support him in his assignment.
“Civil servants play an important role in governance; they are critical to government, and success of government will be determined by their roles,” he said.
Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress was sworn in as governor on Friday, succeeding Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the Peoples Democratic Party.
