ISSUES/POLICY: Running A Worker-Friendly Govt

 

By Kola Odepeju

Government at whatever level; local, state and federal, and whichever type of government; military or civilian, exists to cater for the welfare of the people. Section 14 of the Nigerian constitution states that: “Security and welfare of the people shall be the primary responsibility of the government”. Since government exists primarily to serve the people in these two regards, then any government that does not live up to expectation with respect to this primary reason for which it exists, only exists for itself and not for the people. And any government that does not exist for the people is better thrown out. In fact, such is not even fit to be referred to as a government in the real sense of the word.

To say that the government of Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun is worker-friendly is simply stating the obvious. I think there shouldn’t be any disputation about this.

Right from the inception of his administration, Governor Oyetola has impressed it on the public that he was set to run a worker-friendly government, as he took off with full payment of workers’ salaries in fulfillment of his electioneering campaign promise of 2018.

Two years into his administration, Governor Oyetola has not defaulted in the payment of full salaries to workers, even in spite of the monetary challenges his government is facing.

The surprising thing however, is that in spite of payment of full salaries to workers and all categories of political appointees, service to the general public has not suffered in the least, as various other sectors are also feeling the positive impact of the government.

Talk of the health sector, education, agriculture, road infrastructure and so on. All these are receiving adequate government attention. For instance, roads are being rehabilitated across the state and constructed where necessary, hospitals are being renovated.

Of course, worthy of mention here is the rehabilitation and delivery of 332 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) so far. In addition to all this is the regular and adequate payment of pensions and payment of pensioners’ arrears.

All these are what a government exists for.

Living up to the billing with respect to all these and some other social responsibilities that are required of government speaks volume of Governor Oyetola’s concern about the welfare of the people.

I recall here that recently, when one of the roads being constructed by Governor Oyetola was put on a social media platform, a commentator asked; “but where is he getting money to do all these while still paying full salaries to workers?”

Undoubtedly, the commentator must be a well-informed person about Osun’s financial status. I endeavoured to respond to him that “all that the governor is being able to do is as a result of his expertisé in financial management. Being a financial guru puts him at a vantage position to apply the principle of wise husbandry of resources in the management of the state finances; hence this much achievement amidst meagre resources accruable to the state”.

The commentator responded agreeably to my response. Without mincing words it takes only a leader gifted in financial engineering to be able to run the state effectively as Oyetola is doing; given the financial reality on ground.

Not resting on his oars, Governor Oyetola further puts more smiles on the faces of Osun workers, when last week he announced extra packages for them. These are commencement of payment of new minimum wage effective from November 1st, lifting of embargo on annual salary increment which started in 2012 and thirdly, lifting of embargo on Promotion and Conversion.

And in addition to all these, the governor also promised that he would start to pay the second half of their salaries unpaid during the administration of his predecessor. All these smack of high sense of responsibility and compassion on the part of the governor, whose decision in respect of the aforementioned have been greatly applauded by workers in the state.

But in reality, workers in the state are not the only set of people that are happy about the governor’s decision. Members of the public generally are also happy because by the time these new packages start rolling in, the whole state will feel it positively as the effect will percolate down to the masses.

Of course an average citizen in the state will be better off; especially artisans and owners of small-scale businesses who will no doubt be given patronage – patronage of necessary goods and services – by the civil servants whose standards of living might have shored up with the new packages.

With these coming new packages for workers therefore, there’s no doubt that a boost in the living condition of Osun home-based citizens is on the way. This is why Governor Oyetola deserves a round of applause again, as he soldiers on in the governance of the state.
Governor Oyetola’s progressive approach to governance and especially his recent decision to further put smiles on the faces of workers, reminds me of Douglas MacArthur’s quote that;

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He doesn’t set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intents”.

Given the way Oyetola has confronted the serious business of governance in the last two years; and considering also the fact that he was never a politician really, he indisputably fits into Douglas’ description of a true leader. A leader with a listening ear who addresses the plight of the people at the most appropriate time is a genuine and true leader. Such deserves to be followed.

To the civil servants who have been so honoured to have been given this much, increased productivity is expected from them. Respect, they say, is reciprocal – while to whom much is given, much is surely expected. There’s need for them to be more dedicated so the goal of Governor Oyetola to take Osun to greater heights can be easily achieved.