There were wild jubilations at the Ogun state Secretariat complex, Abeokuta on Thursday, when news filtered in that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun has paid salaries of 1, 000 workers recruited by his predecessor, Ibikunle Amosun through the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).
Some of the affected new civil servants, who could not hide their feelings, trooped out of their respective offices in celebration, when bank alerts started coming into their respective phones, notifying them of payment of a lump sum of nine months’ salary arrears paid by the governor.
But as part of the efforts towards fulfilling his electioneering campaign promise of addressing the increasing rate of unemployment in the state and after critically looking into the process of their employment, the governor resolved to keep them in the state’s workforce not minding the alleged flaws and criticism that followed.
Also, during the January 9, 2020 swearing-in ceremony of the Permanent Secretaries at the state secretariat complex in Abeokuta, Abiodun had assured that his administration would absorb the workers irrespective of some irregularities discovered by the Appointment and Employment Review Committee that was set up.
Some of the affected workers, who spoke with NATIONAL ECONOMY expressed appreciation to the governor for his magnanimity and love for humanity.
The officers, who disclosed that they have been coming to work with mixed feelings and hoping for the best, however, assured that they would remain dedicated and more committed to the “Building Our Future Together” mantra of the Dapo Abiodun led administration in the state.
