The All Progressives Party (APC) in Ondo State says it will pay the backlog of unpaid workers’ salaries within six months if elected.
Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
Adesanya said that Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the party’s candidate in the Nov. 26 governorship election, had a meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state where he promised that he would not retrench workers.
Adesanya assured that APC government in the state would also pay all pension arrears within six months of assumption of office.
NAN reports that workers and pensioners in the state are being owed six months salaries and other entitlements.
“Considering the suffering of the people due to non-payment of salaries and pensioners’ entitlements, Akeredolu has resolved, with the party leadership, to declare a state of emergency on welfare of pensioners and workers in the state.
“You will recall that workers in the state are owed over six months salaries at a stretch for almost two years now and pensioners have not been paid their entitlements for almost two years now,” he said.
Adesanya decried the hardship and suffering the workers and pensioners were subjected to, saying that many workers had died in the process of waiting for their entitlements.
The APC spokesperson said that aside from regular payment of salaries and allowances, APC government would ensure periodic training and retraining of workers to enhance productivity and efficiency.
“Akeredolu always feel the pains when he sees pensioners and workers going through avoidable sufferings due to gross neglect and abandonment due to lack of vision on the part of the state government and its agencies.
“Akeredolu and leadership of the party have therefore resolved to alleviate the sufferings of workers and pensioners by ensuring prompt payment of their emoluments.
“This is to avoid the embarrassing situation of “work but no pay” situation that has enveloped our state for months.
“Even today (Monday), Akeredolu met with the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state and assured them that the welfare of workers in the state is paramount to his administration.
“Akeredolu also promised local government workers of transparency and accountability in the third tier of government and also to complete all meaningful projects of past governments in the state.
“The APC candidate, who was received by the state president of NULGE, Chief Wunmi Aniayewu, also pledged that his administration will not be vindictive and will not retrench any worker in the state civil service”.
He said that Akeredolu’s wealth of experience as a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice in the state and a former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) placed him above other contenders in the election.
