Chairman of Irepodun /Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mr. Olufemi Awe, has thrown his weight behind the recent restructuring exercise carried out by the state government in the 16 council areas of the state.

The state government through the restructuring redeployed some workers with National Certificate of Education (NCE) certificates to the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), while some with health related certificates  to health centres, and others to where they are fit to function properly.

But, this development has generated hues and cries in some quarters, especially by the opposition parties, which described the process as an attempt to sack the council workers.

The council boss, who spoke at Iyin Ekiti yesterday, while presenting four vehicles, six motorbikes and other materials valued at N4.5 million to some indigenes of the community, described the programme as  timely and compulsory task that must be done to bring sanity and rescue the state from economic doldrums.

According to him, the way the local government system was being run had been killing the state’s economy.

He urged the opposition to stop spreading falsehood against the sitting government for initiating the programme meant to sanitise the system.

He said the government cannot continue to tolerate redundancy and be maintaining an over bloated  workforce at the third tier when they can be effectively engaged in the  Ministries, Agencies and other Government departments.

He noted that “every right thinking Ekitis know that there should be surgical operation in our councils, if truly they are desirous of development at the grassroots.”

Awe said: “On the list pasted on the notice boards across the 16 council areas after the biometric verification exercise, some workers were declared redundant and I am very sure that this government will not sack them, but they would be transferred to where they can be gainfully engaged  for better productivity.”

While allaying fears being entertained by the affected workers that they would be sacked from the service, Awe said nobody would be laid off by the present government.

He declared that government carried out the restructuring policy to curtail poverty and engender  development  at the grassroots.