The Ondo state government has urged workers in the state to join in the growing agitation for the restructuring of the country's system of governance to pave the way for the autonomy of its federating units and enable states carry out its responsibilities without recourse to the federal government.
The state's Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade who spoke with newsmen in Akure today said Labour Unions and workers in the country have serious roles to play in the actualisation of the growing clamour for a workable system of government in the country which will enable states use its resources to address the needs of its people.
Akinmade said if the states are allowed to control their resources, government will be able to pay workers their wage as and when due and the trend of going on strike to press for wages would become a thing of the past.
The government's spoke person said if the country was operating a workable system where states are allowed control over their resources, a state like Ondo with its government's ingenuity and capability to create wealth would not be struggling to pay wages.
Akinmade who urged striking workers in the state to return to work as government is doing everything possible to pay their salary arrears said government is not ready to hide anything from the workers regarding its finances and that "we will continue to communicate and appeal to our people to show more understanding because we share in their pain."
Insisting that workers retrenchment is not an option in the face of the present economic crunch , Akinmade said the state Governor , Dr Olusegun Mimiko has vowed not to sack any worker , stressing that government is focusing on the exploitation of its bitumen which he recently secured the licences to explore as this will be value addition in the state's revenue base.
He thus charged the workers to take up the challenge and ensure the current trend of hardship in the country is tackled before it gets worse as anything short of true federalism to use their resources with workers in the state to return to work following their decision to embark on
Submitting that the inability of government to pay wages as and when due was as a result of the decline in the nation's economy which has made it impossible for states to access sufficient fund from the federation account to meet its monthly obligations to its workers, the commissioner said the implementation of the 2014 National Confab report is the immediate solution to the challenges facing the country as this will make for the restructuring of the country and pave the way for a workable system of government.
"Anyone that wishes Nigeria well and wants our state to develop will join in the growing agitation to restructure the country, this is a sure solution to the challenges and problems confronting us today as a state and as nation" the Commissioner said.
