…Hold 7th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference
…As Governor Oyebanji Reiterates Commitment to Workers Welfare
By Precious Oham
Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Ekiti State Council, has elected new executive members that will pilot the affairs of the Union for another four years.
The election of the new executive members was conducted in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday at the 7th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference with the theme: “Towards Strengthening Trade Unions For Development.”
At the state delegates conference, Comrade Oluwafemi Ajoloko was re-elected unopposed for another four years. Other elected unopposed executive members include; Comrade Akinyemi Adeyemi as Vice Chairman 1, Comrade Bade-Gboyega Rachael as Vice Chairman, Women’s Wing, Comrade Ayodele Julius as Treasurer, Comrade Ogunlana Olugbenga as Trustee, Comrade Ogunsuyi Bamidele as Auditor and Comrade Isijola James as Publicity Secretary.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman, Ajoloko promised to consolidate on his achievement in the last four years to prioritize the well-being of his members by protecting their interest.
While commending Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the giant strides and interventions towards improving health system in the State, Comrade Oluwafemi appealed to the governor to clear the outstanding deductions owed by the previous administrations.
He charged member of the Union to take their jobs seriously, embrace punctuality, work with honesty, decency and decorum adding that their duties is to save lives.
He said: “One will be elated because for you to have served for four years, no election is small and I know some of my contemporaries in other states that recontested and lost. It shows it’s not acceptable to the people.
“In our case, we recontested and we were voted for and won unopposed. Definitely, we did well in our first term and we promised that we will keep doing good as the well-being of our members will continue to be our priority as we have been given priority to it overtime.
“We will build on it. Personally, I believe that leadership is a dungeon. Here and there, many people will meet you and there are insults but then activism is in-born and not something you learn. Despite the insults from any quarters because it is your habit, fighting, defending and protecting the interest of someone, you feel alright.
“Most of the things that is our agitations, he has done it. I told him repairs of hospitals and health centres, to my surprise I never knew the governor met with the Permanent Secretary and the Head of Service. So, they are working on that already.
“He is such a person that I believe he is God sent governor. He will do everything we asked for like the Head of Service confirmed it. Most of those agitations and request are not new. We are just appealing that our outstanding deductions, though he wasn’t the government that owed the deductions, it was the past administrations but at least, he is doing it and we believe he will clear it very soon.
“They should take their work serious. If me as a State Chairman go to my duty post that is my primary assignment before becoming the State Chairman of a union. I don’t play with my work. As a health worker, I am there to save lives. Knowing fully well that I should save lives, each life that I lose, I see that life as my handiwork.
“I will advise my people and we should have the fear of God in anything we do because no one can tell. I will advise them to take their jobs serious and hold it in a very high esteem since they are saving lives.”
Earlier, while delivering his keynote address and declaring the conference open, Governor Oyebanji, represented by the Head of Service, Ekiti State, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi reiterated the commitment of the administration to the welfare of workers in the State.
The governor revealed that funds have been approved to improve the structure of the primary and secondary health centres in the State while urging them to take ownership of the projects.
He urged the new executives to be worthy ambassadors of the State and look outside the box towards the betterment of health system in the State.
“Let’s take ownership when these projects are been done. We also have the need to employ additional health workers and ensure it is done. All our request is being considered and health workers play a pivotal place in the State. The issue about the unpaid gratuity of our senior citizens. The governor has poured the largest amount in gratuity deference in the history of Ekiti State.
“I want to encourage us to elect the leaders we trust. You are the creme de la creme of the service in knowledge. I want to encourage us to look outside the box.”
Also, the Returning Officer for the election and Deputy General Secretary of the Union, Comrade Azubuike Enwe described the election as rancour free noting that politicians should emulate from the Union in the State.
He called on the new executives to reciprocate and deliver on the mandate reposed on them by catering for the welfare of their members, which is their constitutional obligations.
“It goes to show whatever anybody is doing in this life, you have to be committed and dedicated. Labour has offered leadership everywhere. We also expect politicians to emulate what has happened here – a rancour free election and not a do or die affair.
“The people have given them this kind of honour, it is left for them now to reciprocate and deliver in whatever mandate given to them, to cater for their welfare which is their constitutional obligations and responsibilities. I am sure the present leadership are going to make the State proud and that is the interest of the Union.”
On her part, the Controller of Labour and Productivity, Ekiti State, Grace Adeleye, represented by Comrade Oladapo Emmanuel implored the new executives to always follow the statutory grievance resolution procedure in addressing conflicts.
There were goodwill messages from the representatives of the
NLC, TUC, sister Industrial Union Leaders, Senior Special Assistant on Labour Matters to the Governor, among others.