Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday directed that casual staff members of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, be given permanent appointment.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the affected workers have served as casual workers in the hospital for about 12 years.
Addressing the workers during a visit to the hospital, Adeleke blamed the Osun financial crisis on those who orchestrated crises in the local government areas, saying the target was to cripple his administration.
“They plotted against our government. Their goal is to stop Osun’s development. But despite their evil plans, Osun is growing and our projects are moving.
“But by God and the people, we survive, our government is delivering good governance. I won’t stop serving and delivering good things for our people,” Adeleke said.
Announcing the conversion of casual workers of the hospital to permanent staff, the statement by Rasheed said those affected “Have been in that position for twelve years.”
The statement read, “The governor’s announcement, which was greeted with wild excitement among the workers, generated further singing of Imole and Accord songs from the gate of the hospital to the VIP wing.”
The head of the labour movement of the teaching hospital, Mr Olamide Faniran, commended the pro-labour stance of the governor and pleaded for labour support for the re-election of the governor.
“We appreciate your support and assistance to the Osun workers. We saw and felt your sacrifices to make life better for the Osun people. We will reciprocate by massively voting for your re-election on August 15th”, Comrade Faniran stated.
“The governor later moved around the hospital wards, speaking with and consoling the patients,” Rasheed’s statement further read.
Offer of permanent appointments to the workers by Adeleke after 12 years as casual staff brought to the fore the challenge of casualisation in the country.
The PUNCH reports that about 200 casual workers disengaged by the Bauchi State Ministry of Education appealed to the state governor, Bala Mohammed, to consider them for permanent employment.
The affected workers, who served as fingerprint terminal operators, made the appeal through their chairman, Musa Alfa, in a statement made available to Arewa PUNCH.
Alfa described the disengagement as unjust, expressing what he termed “deep pain and a strong sense of injustice” over the development.
He said, “For over seven years, we have faithfully served as Fingerprint Terminal Operators, dedicating our time, energy, and lives to supporting the education system in Bauchi State.”