Friday, July 29, 2005

Fayose at police checkpoint, warns against extortion
From Ifedayo Sayo, Ado-Ekiti

EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has warned the police against extorting money from motorists in the state.

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He also threatened to report members of the state Police Command to higher police authorities if they did not desist from the act.

Fayose gave the warning on Wednesday evening at a road block mounted by policemen on Ado-Ekiti University Campus-Iworoko Road, where he noted that several vehicles being stopped by the police were obstructing free flow of traffic on the road.

The motorists on their part, told the governor that they were being detained by the policemen until they parted with some money.

The governor called the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir Azeez and told him to call his men to order.

He affirmed that the police were supposed to enhance the security of people's lives and property and not extort money from innocent and law-abiding motorists in the state.

Meanwhile, Fayose has pledged to implement the 12 1/2 per cent increase on the salaries of workers in the state.

Addressing the third delegates conference of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) Ekiti State chapter yesterday, Fayose said the payment of the 12 1/2 per cent would be accorded top priority by the state government, though he did not state when the implementation of the salary increase would start.

Represented by the state Head of Service, Mr Segun Bankole, he urged workers to bear the present situation along with the state government, pointing out that everything would be done to make the workers happy.

He was reacting to the demand by the state president of NULGE, Mr. Segun Onaade, for the implementation of the 12 1/2 per cent salary increase, which has already been implemented in other states of the federation.

Fayose also commended the state workers for their maturity, dynamism and understanding which he said, has made the state very peaceful in the area of labour/government relation.

He called on all unions in the state to always embrace dialogue and accommodation of collective interest in the resolution of issues, saying the high point of democracy is dialogue and compromise, before arriving at a consensus in resolving contending issues.

He noted that the state government had done a lot to improve the living conditions of workers in the state. These, he said, included prompt payment of salaries and allowances, release of funds to the benefit of workers and the training and re-training of staff.

He solicited the continued cooperation of workers with the state government to make life more meaningful to the people of the state.

The state Head of Service in his address read by the permanent secretary, General Administration, Mr. Oluwole Ariyo, called on workers to ensure the sustenance of the nation's democracy, while frustrating attempts by the enemies of the land to destabilise democratic governance in the country.