Job Cuts: Fayose dissociates self from governors’ forum, slams APC

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has distanced himself from the decision of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to cut down the size of their work force as a way out of the economic hardship facing the states.

The governor said on Friday the decision was an agenda of the All Progressives Congress and did not represent the collective position of the NGF.

 “It could at best be described as an agenda of the All Progressive Congress and its central government which appears to be clueless about revamping the Nigerian economy,” Mr. Fayose alleged.

 “I like to restate that workers remain critical stakeholders in governance in Nigeria and as such, their rights and privileges must be protected and guaranteed at all times in the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.”

Mr. Fayose noted that it was regrettable that  the government which promised to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians could moot the idea of retrenching workers within its first six months in office as well as toy with the idea of the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products.

“It’s a known fact that some state Governors plunged their states into huge debts very carelessly and recklessly thus mortgaging the lives and souls of their states.,” he said.

“There is therefore no moral justification for a resort to job cut. The social implications of laying off workers at this critical period include social crimes like robbery, suicide and all sorts of malfeasance.”

Mr. Fayose, however, suggested that instead of cutting jobs, state governors should engage their people in a dialogue on the way forward.

“State governors and parties that cannot cope with basic obligations particularly payment of workers salaries may want to step down for more competent manager,” he said.

“State governors must ensure drastic reduction of costs of governance especially those of pleasure for such executives; central and state governments must cut down on foreign travels and huge estacodes; and we all must look inwardly for alternative means of sourcing revenue rather that resort to borrowing.”

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