Ekiti Govt Acquires 4 Waste Trucks, Increases Street Sweepers' Salary to Boost Waste Management.

Ekiti Govt Acquires 4 Waste Trucks, Increases Street Sweepers' Salary to Boost Waste Management.

Ekiti State government has procured additional four new heavy-duty waste trucks and increased the salary of street sweepers in the state to enhance waste management and environmental sanitation.

Unveiling the new waste trucks at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ekiti State, Oyeniyi Adebayo said the initiative is part of the conscious efforts of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment. 

He charged residents of the state to join hands with the state government in its efforts to manage waste, reduce environmental pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change.

He said: "In Ekiti State, we are very conscious of the importance of the environment and the governor is also very aware of our daily lifestyles, the way we live and the impact they have on the environment. 

"We all have roles both the government and the people. On the part of the people, we need to imbibe safer ,cleaner habits. We need to collect our waste in ways that makes it very easy for government agencies especially EKSWAMA to come around and pick them up."

Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Tosin Aluko commended the governor's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and public health in the state. 

She emphasized that the acquisition of additional new trucks is another testament to the governor's proactive leadership and genuine concern for the well-being of Ekiti people adding that the initiative will help the agency to cover more grounds, respond faster to waste collection needs and improve the cleanliness of the state.

On his part, Director General of Ekiti Waste Management Authority (EKSWAMA), Olasunkanmi Onipede explained that the new equipments will improve the agency's efforts of refuse collection and disposal to address the challenges in waste management.

He revealed that the governor has also increased the salaries of sweepers, operatives, supervisors and drivers in the agency for the second time to enhance its drive for a cleaner and healthier environment in the state. 

The DG reiterated Governor Oyebanji's administration's dedication to sustainable environmental practices while urging residents to support government efforts through a proper waste disposal.

 

His words: "The governor approved the procurement of these four trucks for us, bearing in mind that he has also done something similar early last year. We bought three trucks last year, and we did fabrications of about 40 dino bins. This year, he gave us the approval to procure these four trucks - two roll-on and two garbage trucks. He has also given us the approval for another fabrication of 20 dino bins. 

"The government is highly-sensitive to the operations of EKSWAMA because he wants the state to be clean and he has been on high support to the agency. Ekiti State will surely be clean because that is the watchword of the governor and that is his target. For us to achieve this, I will be bold to say what the governor has done again which is another indicator that the state has to be clean. 

"We have over 700 sweepers, including operatives and the drivers. The governor has graciously approved the review of their salaries for the second time .The sweepers were formerly earning 12,000, the governor has taken their salary to 35,000 which is over 200% increase. He has taken the salaries of our operatives from 20,000 to 50,000, drivers from 25,000 to 50,000, and the Supervisors from 15,000 to 40,000. I am sure that all these the governor did in less than two months, all the operatives are going to double their efforts while we keep watch on them. 

"We are going to stand up to the task and we are begging Ekiti people to stop indiscriminate dumping of waste. We are going to move heavily on our sensitization program at the same time run our enforcement program. Let them make use of our dino bins that have been positioned strategically in town. If all these are done, I am sure we will achieve the desired result."