Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State yesterday said his administration remains very sensitive to the welfare of Osun workers.
Receiving Area Comptroller of Oyo and Osun Command, Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, Mr. Muhammed Bawa, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Osogbo, Aregbesola described the present financial situation of the state, which has made it unable to pay workers’ salary, as “disheartening and painful,” saying, however, that no one can suggest or establish a single instance of recklessness on the part of his government.
The governor also held that an efficient and effective customs services was a veritable tool for improving the economy of the nation. Aregbesola noted that a sure way for the country to protect and expand its economy was by ensuring that local industries were protected adequately by the country’s customs services.
He added that the customs was an essential security service for a sovereign state, saying that the NCS should be on top of its game by contributing positively to the nation’s economic development. Aregbesola noted that for the economic development of the West African sub-region to be fasttracked, there must be a free customs zone in the sub-region.
The governor also appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with customs officials in the discharge of their duties.
Explaining why the various security agencies have not been able to enjoy the usual regular support from his government, Aregbesola said the regular employees of his government are being owed, not due to the fault of his administration, but due to the unforeseen sharp economic downturn in the country.
He said without sounding self congratulatory, his government approached governance from the people- oriented point, adding that his comprehensive programmes to transform the state remains intact despite what he called the temporary setback.
Earlier, Mr. Muhammed Bawa said his Command had come to Osun to meet with auto-dealers in the state to educate them on how to legally run their businesses.
He admitted that Osun State unlike other state has few cases of illegal importation being a landlocked state, but noted that many illegally imported vehicles still find their way into the state.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The customs boss said, “We have come to this state to meet with motor dealers, we have come to advice on government compliance regulations to enhance understanding and compliance to rules and regulation of the land.
“We want to reach them so that most of the illegally imported vehicles do not come to Osun, and it wouldn’t be seen as being a harsh decision when officials of customs perform their legitimate functions”, the custom chief emphasised.
(LEADERSHIP)
you may also like: