Gov Oyebanji Rewards Ekiti Workers With ₦42 Million

The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has decided to honour and reward 82 exemplary workers with cash prizes amounting to ₦42 million for their achievements across various award categories.

Naija News reports that the workers were honoured during the 2024 Public Service Forum and Award ceremony, which took place in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, an event which coincided with the second-anniversary celebrations of Governor Oyebanji’s administration.

During the event, the governor reiterated his administration’s dedication to acknowledging exceptional performance within the state’s workforce while also fostering optimism regarding the introduction of a new minimum wage for employees.

Oyebanji personally awarded cheques to several recipients, commending the commitment of the state’s workforce in the face of numerous challenges.

“We’ve not been able to provide you with sufficient working tools, but despite that, you have remained committed and have delivered on every assignment given to you. This is why I fully support the Head of Service in our efforts to continue rewarding performance. We will keep scaling this up annually because you deserve the best, and that’s exactly what we will give you,” Oyebanji said.

Concerning the current debates regarding the new minimum wage, the governor guaranteed employees that they would soon start enjoying the advantages.

He highlighted that the panel responsible for examining the minimum wage put in a lot of effort, and after its suggestions were accepted, the declaration would be made.

“I want to reassure you that the new minimum wage will eventually make you smile. I believe in the rule of law, and since the wage has been passed into law by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, it is mandatory for me to uphold it. The slight delay in implementation is due to our efforts to ensure that all segments of the public service, including pensioners, benefit simultaneously,” Oyebanji stated.

He also urged workers to trust their labour leaders, emphasizing the transparent relationship between the government and labour unions.

The governor expressed his deep gratitude to the workers for their unwavering support over the past two years, stating, “Without your support, we wouldn’t have achieved anything significant. Government policies can only work if they are implemented faithfully by dedicated workers like you.”