By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has restated the determination of his government to meet its commitment and obligation to its workers towards their improved welfare.
He said this at the state’s 2017 Public Service Day Lecture, with the topic, Stress Management and Keeping Healthy, held at the June 12, Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
Amosun said he is not oblivious of the fact that a productive civil service is deserving of a whole range of emolument, such as salaries, running costs, leave bonus and promotion, promising to do more as soon as the finances of the state improves.
The governor said apart from the N4.5 billion approved for the payment of six months salary deductions, government would also offset all the leave bonuses of the workers by September.
The state Head of Service, Mr. Abayomi Sobande in his address, enjoined public servants to ensure that they improve on the standard inherited from the founding fathers of the Public Service, adding that this is the only way to honour revered icons like Chief Simeon Adebo and Chief AAK Degun.
Speaking on the theme, Managing Stress and Keeping Healthy, Mr Sobande stated that Public Servants often encounter stress in the course of carrying out their duties and responsibilities, which often serves as a barrier to efficiency and productivity.
The head of Service explained that the Public Service Day has not only been celebrated with series of life touching and captivating programmes, but also been a day set aside to assess the level of stedwardship, diligence, efficiency, integrity and professionalism among other virtues expected of Public Servants, who he described as real agents of change in the society.
Delivering the lecture, Acting Provost, Neuro Psychiateic Hospital, Aro Abeokuta, Dr. Timothy Adebowale said everybody needs a little bit of stress in life for optimum performance because it serves as a form of stimulus, but that it must be moderate and not too much.
Adebowale noted that if stress is well handled, the people will live a healthier life, urging the entire workers to understand what stress is, its source, types and manifestations, to know how to manage.
