File photo: Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared Friday as work-free, to allow public service workers to participate in Saturday’s governorship election.

The governor, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the holiday notice was contained in a circular issued by the Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina.

Adeleke said the decision was to enable workers to embark on travelling where required and to prepare to exercise their voting rights on Saturday.

He added that all categories of workers were covered in the work-free day declaration except those on emergency and essential duties.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared Friday 14th of August as work-free, to allow public service workers to participate in the Saturday governorship election.

“In a circular issued by the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, the decision is to enable workers to embark on travelling where required and to prepare to exercise their voting rights on Saturday,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Adeleke has tasked Osun workers, their relatives and friends to vote massively on Saturday and defend their votes to ensure continuity of good governance across the state sectors.

In a pre-election message to the workers, the governor commended the steadfastness of the labour leadership and workers in support of his administration, lauding the mutually beneficial relationship between his administration and Osun workers.

“The time for action has come. As formal workers at state establishments, I task you to mobilise informal workers, artisans and professional bodies.

“We must remain strong in defence of our constitutional rights to vote and be voted for.

“We must defend the gains of the last three and a half years plus.

“Ours is a workers-friendly government which has delivered across board to labour and Osun people. We cannot and must not allow a return to dark days,” the governor said.