OSOGBO, Nigeria – Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has instructed an immediate review of the ongoing staff audit within the state’s public service, following a walkout by civil servants who expressed dissatisfaction with the exercise.
On Thursday, July 6, 2023, state civil servants had abandoned the venue of the staff audit, expressing grievances over the treatment they received from consultants employed to conduct the audit.
The civil servants criticized the exercise as being baseless and were upset with the manner in which the consultants were handling the process.
In response to these complaints, Governor Adeleke convened a joint meeting with labor leaders and the auditing firm on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
During the meeting, he ordered the joint committee in charge of the exercise to address all contentious issues and establish agreeable modalities for a smooth and efficient audit.
Governor Adeleke expressed his concern over the inconvenience the exercise had caused the public servants and instructed the Head of Service to make necessary adjustments to the procedures to ensure the comfort and well-being of the workers.
Additionally, he directed the joint committee to develop a new timetable, which takes into consideration the diversity and unique characteristics of the ministries and agencies.
He also urged the committee to consider decentralizing the exercise on a zonal basis to reduce the logistical challenges associated with travel to the capital city.
In his statement, Governor Adeleke emphasized the importance of the audit exercise in identifying and plugging financial leakages in order to bolster staff welfare.
He also urged all stakeholders to collaborate to ensure the smooth completion of the program.
“I have read a lot of comments and complaints from the public service. I have also listened to you all at this meeting. We must adjust the procedures to have a mutually acceptable exercise. We should all remember the purpose of this audit exercise which is to block leakages to expand staff welfare,” the Governor said.
Furthermore, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing and protecting the interests of the workers.
He stated that his government has always maintained a partnership and brotherhood with the labor movement, which precludes any actions against labor.
“This is a government in love with labor, workers, artisans, women, youth, and others. We will never act against the best interest of the public servants,” Governor Adeleke concluded.
As the Osun State Government works to revise and improve the audit exercise, it is anticipated that the concerns of the civil servants will be addressed, and that the process will proceed in a more inclusive and respectful manner.
