OGUN GOVERNOR ABIODUN COMMENCES SALE OF RICE AT DISCOUNTED PRIZE FOR COMMITMENT TO WORKERS' WELFARE

As part of his dedication to the well-being of the workforce, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun started selling rice to state employees over the weekend.

The 'Oja Irorun' Civil Servants Farmers' Market in the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was the venue for the event.

The event, according to Governor Abiodun, who was represented by Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, Head of Service, was a major step forward in the state government's continuous efforts to raise the living standards of state employees.

The governor acknowledged that the workers' devotion to their jobs and their passion for serving the public were important factors in his administration's accomplishments.

"Ogun State civil servants' dedication and hard work form the bedrock of the progress and prosperity of our dear state. Recognising this invaluable essence of workers to the actualisation of the policies and programmes of the state government, the administration has graciously approved the sale of high quality bags of rice at discounted prices exclusively to the workforce," the governor said.

Employees in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were asked by Prince Abiodun to seize the chance and appreciate the state government's kind gesture.

The Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, thanked the government for the initiative in his welcome speech. Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Training, represented him. This is just one of the government's many interventions to lessen the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies for state employees.

However, the Head of Service advised the staff to return the government's kindness by continuing to be committed to their jobs and cooperating to advance the state.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Isa Olude and his counterpart from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ademola Ahmed-Benco, appreciated the state government for the initiative, which they said, would restore the purchasing power of the people and promote the welfare of workers.

The union leaders went on to say that the action was evidence that the state has a kind and understanding governor, of whom they are proud, and they urged the employees to return the favour by carrying out their official responsibilities in a timely and effective manner.

Mrs. Temitope Akintayo from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Mr. Olabanji Sanni from the Ministry of Environment, who are two of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the state government for initiating the process and pledged to continue their diligent efforts towards efficient service delivery.

Mr. Onasanya, speaking on behalf of the government, gave the recipients the bags of rice, and free buses were also available to transport the workers from the programme site a short distance away.

Recall that through a number of interventions, the Prince Abiodun-led administration has worked hard to make sure that the workforce and the people of the Gateway State are protected as much as possible from the consequences of the Federal Government's removal of fuel subsidies.

Among the interventions are the monthly cash palliative, the peculiar allowance given to deserving workers, the provision of CNG buses for both workers and citizens, and the historically large end-of-year bonus given to all state civil and public servants in December of last year.