As part of efforts by Oyo State Government to ensure workers enjoy the 2021 Christmas with their families and loved ones, Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that civil servants in the state will receive their 13th month salary, specifically saying that payment will be made on December 27th.
The governor made this announcement on Sunday, December 19th during the annual end of the year thanksgiving and 3rd Christmas Carol held at the Arcade, Agodi Government House, Ibadan.
It would be recalled that Governor Makinde-led administration paid the December salary on 17th.
This, according to the governor will enable workers prepare well and ahead of the yuletide celebration which is celebrated across the world.
Speaking at the 2021 Christmas Carol, Makinde assured that his administration will not relent on improving the quality of life and standard of living in the state.
The excited governor who along his wife, Mrs. Tamunominimi Makinde expressed his appreciation to God for the year ending, maintained that his administration has raised the bar of governance, adding that he would continue to consolidate on the already recorded success in the state.
Top government functionaries, leadership and members of the ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), religious clerics, as well as residents of the state thronged out to witness the event.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has also in the spirit of the season called on all aggrieved members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to embrace reconciliation.
He said he decided to again make the call on the aggrieved members drawing from a message delivered by the Presiding Pastor, Living Spring Chapel International, Pastor Femi Emmanuel at the 2021 Christmas Carol Service and Nine Lessons organised by Oyo State Government on Sunday.
The service which held at the Rememberance Arcade, Opposite, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan was attended by religious leaders, political appointees, top government functionaries who took the bible readings in turn at the event.
The governor who read the ninth lesson at the event while speaking in a remarks thanked the people of the state for their support to his government, calling on them to intensify their prayers for the state and the country.
According to Makinde, the prayers are more needful in the coming 2022 because the year is the time when political parties would select candidates to contest the 2023 elections.
He also called on those who are willing to participate in politics to embrace political parties by joining so that they will be able to contribute their quota.
Makinde said “This is the third edition of this Christmas carol. I thank the good people of Oyo state for their support and prayers. All of it are possible because of your prayers to this government.
“I also want to seek for your further support for 2022. You may or may not be aware that year 2022 will be a defining year. It is the year that we will choose candidates by political parties for the 2023 elections.
“We have to intensify prayers so that our parties can choose aright. For those who have not joined any political parties, please let us do so
Oyo State have been particularly lucky. Right here we have the CAC President Worldwide, Oyo State has the National President of CAN, Oyo State has the PFN National President, you can see that God is with us because these have never happened before.
“God knows the kind of prayers that we need and he raised these people at a time like this.
“We are praying for an increase of our IGR, it comes from the residents and citizens and for it to go up, the citizens must be ready to play their own part
“And as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that we manage your resources very well. we assure you that we are making good use of your resources.
“Some people have been abusing me because of our decision on Independent Power Project (IPP), that maybe I want to use it in government House or my residence.
“But, Oyo state will have its own IPP and from that proof of concept, we will expand it to industries and household as we move along.
“Few people have also criticise this government that why are we linking zones instead of doing street.
“Well, for us, we are opening up spaces and making sure all other areas are also open and developed so that we don’t choke ourselves due to inability to expand infrastructure but what we are doing is a new development approach.
“For us, we must live Oyo vision where Oyo state can be benchmark with anywhere else in the world.
Earlier during his homily, Pastor Femi Emmanuel said one of the reasons and implications why Jesus was born was to reconcile us.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity to beg all aggrieved PDP members to come and let us reconcile ourselves in the spirit of this season.
“We also call on aggrieved members of the opposition APC to come and join us too. We will receive them gladly.
“I’m calling on all aggrieved people anywhere, we will reconcile anybody.”