Osun state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said Nigeria is in a war situation considering the current financial constraints the country is facing.
He stated this at an Annual Lecture of Public Service, held at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Osogbo, on Thursday.
He said “the equivalent of what we are facing today is a war position. I’ve said it that Nigeria was in an economy war situation and it was published in a newspaper.
Contrary to the rumour that the state has been paying half salaries to the workers, Aregbesola said only 28 percent of the state workforce are receiving half salaries.
He warned the workers to avoid being used to portray the government in a bad light, saying his government has been friendly with workers in the state.
Analysing the money accrued to the state and the amount used to pay salaries, Aregbesola said the state got N31,231billion in 2016 and paid salaries with 26.1billion.
He said the total Internally Generated Revenue of the state from July 2015 to November 2017 was N21.452billion, while the totality of the Paris fund is N18.58 billion.
According to him, from July 2015 to November 2017, the state has spent N63.992.540,637.27 to pay salaries.
He however appealed to workers to endure and support his government with a view to succeed, commending them for their sacrifice, commitment and perseverance.
“The truth is, our state require extraordinary push. I appeal to you, don’t let the enemy of our race deceive you. You have sacrificed sufficiently. I appeal to you, we value you so much, collaborate with us to weather the storm.
“We keep on appealing and begging. We have the mandate to serve the civil servants and the people of the state.
Speaking on “Government Structure, Public Service Productivity and Efficiency in the Realisation of Political Mandate: The Challenge of Governance, the guest lecturer, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, who is a retired Federal Permanent Secretary and former DG, Bureau of Public Sector Reforms, identified poor redundancy management, insufficient budgets, absence of improvement in the operations and processes of government, and lack of effective coordinations at the center of government has key factors, hindering productivity and efficiency in governance.
He said political will and prudent management of resources demand that government functionaries in elected or appointive position are able to reconcile such cost, with ability and readiness to provide fund, and ensure adequate service delivery.
He insisted on productivity and efficiency role of civil servants in the realization of good governance, adding that public servant should at all times serve the public and not the political interest.
Earlier, the pioneer Secretary to the Government of Osun and Head of Service, Mr. Moses Aboaba, called on the governor to ensure improvement of Staff Development Center (SDC).
He said the improvement would go a long way in the training of rank and file of the civil servants.
Aboaba noted that human development had been a veritable tool in achieving positive government goals which he said must be given adequate attention.
“Civil service which is the engine for good government delivery needed to be thoroughly trained and motivated. Civil service must occupy the rightful place just as the case in the old western region when it was acclaimed as the best civil service in the Federation.
In his goodwill message, a former Permanent Secretary in the state, Mr. Femi Adelowokan, urged the civil servants to be principled and not to allow their integrity to be compromised.
He advised the state government to correct the title “Coordinating Director”, saying it is not a civil service language.
He commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the establishment of O’Yes which he said the federal government has adopted and tagged “NPower”.
