Osun Executive Order 3: Disengaged Health Workers Beg Adeleke, Appeal For Consideration of Appointments

The recently regularized ad-hoc/voluntary health workers of the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board by the immediate past government of the State have appealed to the incumbent governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke to consider their appointments.

Senator Adeleke had shortly after his swearing in as the State governor on November, 27 last year invoked Executive Order Number 3 to reverse all employments made by the previous administration after the July 16th 2022 Osun State governorship election.

The health workers numbered 515 under the State primary health care development board made the appeal on Monday at a press conference held in Osogbo, the State capital.

In his address, one of the coordinators of health workers, Pharm. Adebare Adebayo saluted the governor for threading the path of accountability and transparency as well due process in public services.

Adebayo however, pleaded with the governor on behalf of the members who are direct victims of the executive by considering their appointments, which occurred through the process of regularization of initial voluntary services that later metamorphosed into Ad-hoc.

“We appreciate and salute his efforts towards ensuring accountability and
transparency as demonstrated from the proclamation of various Executive Orders, the Subsequent Inauguration of Capable Committees to oversee the right implementation of the proclaimed Executive Orders and the Incorporation of the complete Rehabilitation of another set of 332 PHCs into his 100 days in office programs.

“However, as potential victims of circumstance by virtue of our Governor’s
Executive Order Number 3 on Employment made after July 16th 2022; we hereby passionately appeal for a favorable consideration of our appointments, which occurred through the process of regularization of our previous initial voluntary services that later metamorphosed into Ad-hoc and payment of our withheld Salaries.

“We would like to inform Your Excellency, that we have been in the processing
of this employment for a very long time, and we were encouraged to be performing as Ad-Hoc and Voluntary Staffs giving us assurances that the State will give us a favorable consideration towards employing us as permanent Staffs over time.

“After several series of administrative protocols and actions, Governor’s
approval was finally given to the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board last year to fill the vacuum left behind by Retired Staffs of the Agency; putting into consideration, the salary equivalent of the Retired Medical Staffs so as not to put any additional burden on the State finance. As a result of that, several interviews were conducted by Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board across all Cadres and some of us were offered provisional appointments in September, 2022 irrespective of our political, ethnic and religious affiliations. We wish to inform our Governor that we have all resumed at our different places of work across the State since September, 2022 after series of Orientations and Trainings” he said.

Speaking on efforts made so far on the issue, Adebayo stated that, “However It is pertinent to inform our Governor that we have engaged in different activities and actions aimed at getting timely response from the State Government but yet with little or no response. Some of the actions already taken included, Approaching the Review Committee on Employment and Appointment, Meeting with the State House of Assembly, Meeting with notable Political and Community Leaders, Conduction of Free Medical Outreach/Awareness at Alhaji Isiaka Memorial Mosque, Ede and Writing to our Governor, His Excellency Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke.

“We therefore passionately appeal to our Governor, to give us a favorable
consideration towards the continuation of our services and the payment of our
withheld salaries as its already done in other sister Agencies initially affected by this same Governor’s Executive Order Number 3 on Employment made after July 16th 2022 in the state for we are only victims of circumstance.”

While restating their commitment to duties across all the local governments and the area council of the state, Adebayo noted that the regularised health workers would continue to engage relevant stakeholders in the government to ensure that their demands are met.