Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Sunday described as uncalled for insinuations that the state would not pay salaries of its workers in March as a result of the N6million federal allocation that accrued to it for the month of February.
A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, explained that considerably reduced Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation is no more news to the State.
The government, therefore, assured its workers that just as it weathered the storm to pay salaries up to December; it is executing with the support of all stakeholders, including the workers, a well-mapped out strategy for ensuring that workers are not made to pay more price for the dwindling allocation than they have done.
Osun has received less than N150 million from October 2015 till date due to the repayment obligations for the infrastructure projects the government said it has been prosecuting.
In spite of the heavy obligations, it has paid more than N5billion in salaries between the same period, Okanlawon said.
“FAAC is not only source of revenue to the state, and the commendable support of workers has allowed us to stretch our reserves and other sources to pay workers on mutually agreed terms as well as fulfil our development promises to the majority of the people
“As at today, the process for the payment of January salaries is at the final stages. Osun workers will receive their salaries from this week in preparation for Easter holidays,” the governor’s spokesman said.
While arguing that Osun is fulfilling its obligations to the people and running government, Aregbesola called on all that care “to come to visit Osun to see for themselves the moods in the state rather than pander to rumours, conjectures and lies.”
The statement added that Osun, by virtue of its poor allocation, has never had the opportunity of ample resources that are commensurate to the humongous responsibilities of payment of salaries, payment of pensions and gratuities, and implementation of capital projects.
“But due to prudent management of resources, creative infrastructure financing, this government has been able to fulfil its obligations in all these critical areas of governance.
“The fact remains that Osun under Aregbesola did not have to wait for the day the state would get N6million as allocation before proffering solutions towards sustainable economic self-reliance.
“This is why Osun has reduced the cost of governance, moved aggressively to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), sought to attract investments into the state through provision of hitherto non-existent infrastructure and enabling environment and instituted performance-driven governance.
“It must be noted that all hands are on deck towards more convenient repayment schedule of existing loans as part of plans to free the state’s resources for critical needs of governance. This is in addition to the drive for internally generated revenues the performance of which is very encouraging,” the statement added.
Eheh! That’s My Guy.