Workers Day Celebration- Ondo to employ 10,000 workers – Gov Akeredolu

The Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, announced that his administration would employ 10, 000 workers for the reforestation project in the state.

Mr. Akeredolu made the promise at the international workers day celebration held at the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, in Akure.

“In the coming weeks, investors will be here to plant trees and this will lead to the employment of 10, 000 unemployed Ondo state citizens,” the governor said.

He stated that the trees would help grow the economy of the state and resuscitate moribund industries neglected by past administrations.

Mr. Akeredolu reiterated that his administration was committed to the workers’ welfare and promised to offset the outstanding salaries owed by the immediate past government.

“The welfare of workers and the people of Ondo are the priority of this government which is evidenced by frantic efforts in prompt payment of workers salaries and gradually offsetting salary arrears.

“There is a dire need, particularly for workers in the state, to start thinking out of the box on how to diversify our economy from the oil dependence into agriculture and industrialization in order to boost our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he stressed.

The governor also asked the state workforce to imbibe a positive attitude by shunning “absenteeism” and other unethical conducts at public offices.

Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Bosede Daramola, also said there was need to diversify the economy by the various tiers of the government.

Mrs. Daramola pleaded with the federal government to expedite action on the agitation for a new minimum wage for the workers in the country.

The chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Soladoye Ekundayo, called on the state government to embark on programmes that will make the youths to be gainfully employed.

Mr. Ekundayo said this would also help to reduce the rate of crime and equally reduce amount of millions spent on security issues on monthly basis.

“Over reliance on statutory allocations from Abuja will not take us anywhere, hence the state government should embark on aggressive IGR drive and look inwards to expand its revenue base,” he said.