OMOOBA DOTUN BABAYEMI's GOODWILL MESSAGE TO WORKERS/PENSIONERS ON WORKERS DAY OF 2022

It is with esteemed regards and infinite pleasure that I, Omooba 'Dotun Babayemi, the gubernatorial candidate of the Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming election of Saturday,July 16, 2022, rejoice and felicitate with all Osun State workers,teachers and pensioners on the auspicious occasion of Workers Day, today, 1st May, 2022. 

As you are aware, it is a day of sober reflection during which workers and pensioners take stock on how they fared in the past and reflect on the future. Therefore,as you mark the occasion, I wish to convey my heartfelt congratulations and esteemed regards to you all and also pray that the grace of  God will give you strength to break grounds with ease in the ensuing year.

Also, it's rather disheartening to note that the civil service which is the engine room and pride of any government in the past, has been bastardized in Osun State through bad governance, lack of incentives to civil servants, shabby treatment to  workers, job insecurity and poor treatments of old and fragile pensioners, who are denied their rights, claims and entitlements, to mention but a few. 

To buttress this point for instance, please permit me to recall that pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme I.e non- Contributory Pensioners have hitherto, not been granted the privilege to enjoy harmonisation of pensions approved and granted by the Federal Government in 2014 and 2019  effective in July, 2014 and April, 2018 respectively. 

The last harmonisation of pensions enjoyed was in 2007 as approved by the Olagunsoye Oyinlola PDP-led administration.This means that pensioners in the state have been earning the same poor pension every month in the past fifteen years under the All Progressives Congress(APC) government of both former and present governors, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Alh Gboyega Oyetola respectively. 

Whereas, other States have implemented the same pension circulars authorising the two pension increments for their pensioners, Osun State Government's action under the APC, is in contravention and flagrant disobedience to Section 173,subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides for upward review of pensions every five years.The outstanding arrears of 142% harmonisation and 30 months half salaries and pensions are also unsettled till date. 

Workers have not been spared of shabby treatments by the two administrations of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State since 2010,particularly in the areas of paper promotions to workers without being cash-backed, non-remitance of cooperative and other deductions, 30 months half salaries et.c.

Osun State Government of All Progressives Congress led administration, is oblivious of the fact that salaries and pensions fall within the constitutional rights of both workers and pensioners and should not be tampered with.The attitude of Osun State Government in this regard, is sacrilegious and runs counter to the tenets of democracy.

The questions that now beg for answers are: (I) For how long shall both workers and pensioners continue to swallow the bitter pills being forced into the their throats by APC?

 (Ii) Do workers and pensioners realise that they have the needed political clout to effect the removal of  any political impediment hampering their progress?

The answers to these questions are not far-fetched.The solution is at your doorstep.It is your voting strength that you need to rightly deploy, employ your capability to mobilise others to vote and give massive support to the PDP to roundly win the forthcoming governorship election of July 16, 2022. The PDP will correct the anomalies and bring back the old glory to the civil and public service.The state and its people shall witness all-round developments.

I'm sincerely wishing you happy a celebration of the occasion.Thank you and God bless!