LGs must meet obligations to workers, says Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says Local

Government Councils must meet their obligations as

specified in the constitution even as he said the state

government would assist the Local Governments in re-

engineering their finances in order to meet their obligations

to their workers.

Speaking at the 17th Synod of the Anglican Communion,

held at the St. John’s Anglican Church in Benin City, Friday,

the Governor who attended the Synod in company of his

wife Iara, and several top government functionaries said

“Every day you read newspapers, watch television, there is

no doubt that this is the most difficult period in Nigeria’s

history, perhaps since 1999, probably even before then.

So difficult that in about two-thirds of states, civil servants,

public servants are working and for 6 months, their salaries

are not paid, schools are closed, the children of the poor

are at home and only the children of those who can afford

private schools are being taught, compounding the problem

of illiteracy with the concomitant security implication and

yet we still have relative peace.

“In this state, we are not perfect, we have asked God to

govern the state for us and I believe he is governing the

state for us. I am proud to say that in our South-south

geopolitical zone, we receive the lowest allocation but we

are the only one who is up-to-date in the payment of

salaries to workers who work for Edo State Government.”

He said, “There are things going on across the states. There

are some of our Local Governments who are not able to pay

workers. We are working hard to get them to recognize that

the bible says ‘the laborer is entitled to his wages’ whether

or not the employer is rich. We are working hard to assist

them, to re-engineer their finances because we have no

money to give them; we have to tell them to meet their own

obligations as specified in the constitution.

“If you look around the country, if you look at Federal

projects in Edo State, the construction of Benin-Auchi

Roads, once the elections were over, the contractors were

gone but our contractors working for Edo State on Siluko

road, 2nd East Circular Road, Upper Mission, Queen Ede

Erosion Site, the Ekenwan Erosion project is on, the Central

Hospital project is going on and we are certain to finish it

and complete it this year.

“People ask me how are we able to make this possible and

I say to God be the glory because we know what to do and

what to stop doing in this moment of financial crisis and to

know what we can’t afford to stop and to stop what we

need to stop. It requires God’s guidance and courage and

by the Grace of God we will continue.

“The State has been kind to me, the people have been

generous, they have lavishly supported me not only by

voting but also in prayers in spite of my own weaknesses

and failings and therefore we are committed to doing

everything we can such that the wind of development in this

state will not slow down. I am committed to the fact that

wherever mistakes have been made, I will try to correct.

“I personally appreciate the role of the church in our lives.

We cannot thank our people enough for all they have had to

tolerate.

“I ask you to pray for our President that God will govern

Nigeria for him.”

Earlier, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Benin, Bishop

Peter Imasuen in an address of welcome commended the

Governor for his contributions not only to the Anglican

Communion but to all Christians in Edo State.

He said, “I want to thank you for what you are doing in the

life of men and women in Edo State. Before now, it was

difficult for us to go through Siluko road, today you can go

through it without fear of erosion. With the limited

resources, you have been able to put smiles on the faces of

the people and we are grateful. It is our duty and the duty of

the church to support any party that is doing well and

wherever we feel the government is not doing well, we also

draw their attention.

“Your government has been very effective in the area of

development physical and spiritual. Your government has

been listening to many of our suggestions”, he said.