Ondo announces plans to ease rising transportation costs on workers
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Government has announced plans to ease the burden of rising transportation costs on workers following the recent increase in the pump price of fuel across the country.
The State Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, disclosed this on Wednesday in Akure while receiving the leadership of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) in the state, who paid a courtesy visit to his office.
Odusanya said the government was already taking steps to provide affordable transportation for workers, including the procurement of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses to convey civil servants to and from their places of work.
He explained that the initiative was part of broader measures being undertaken by the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to cushion the economic pressures confronting workers and improve their welfare.
According to him, the governor recently approved an upward review of car and housing loans for workers, alongside an additional N500 million injection into the schemes.
He added that the administration had also increased Tour Duty Allowance (DTA) payable to workers undertaking official assignments within and outside the state, as well as outside the country.
Odusanya further disclosed that the government was working on a comprehensive housing scheme that would enable civil servants to acquire houses through mortgage arrangements.
He said the initiative would provide a more sustainable alternative to the existing staff quarters system, where workers are required to vacate government accommodation upon retirement.
The Head of Service also assured the JNC that the government was making arrangements to recruit personnel to fill critical vacancies across the state public service.
He said such recruitment would help address manpower shortages and ensure effective succession planning as senior workers retire from the service.
Other measures being considered, Odusanya said, include the timely implementation of annual promotions for deserving workers and the provision of subsidised building materials to assist civil servants in their quest to build houses.
He commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for what he described as his commitment to workers’ welfare, expressing optimism that the governor would continue to address the outstanding demands of organised labour in the state.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the JNC, Comrade Segun Ajiboye, commended the governor for the various welfare packages introduced for workers, particularly the recent upward review of loans and allowances.
However, Ajiboye, in a position paper presented during the visit, called for the prompt payment of the 2026 leave bonus and early commencement of the 2027 promotion exercise.
He also urged the government to expedite the recruitment of workers, implement the new minimum wage and introduce further palliatives to cushion the impact of the rising cost of fuel and transportation on civil servants.
Ajiboye said addressing the outstanding demands would further boost workers’ morale and enhance productivity across the state public service.
