Speaking to Journalists in Osogbo over the weekend, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the State, Honourable Sunday Akere reminded civil servants of the pledge and commitment of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration towards payment of their salary latest by 25th of every month; a commitment he religiously honoured until the down turn in the revenue allocations to the state since July 2013.
Speaking further, the Commissioner said the average allocation from the federation account, which hovers around 4.6 billion monthly dropped to about 2.7 billion per month since July 2013 leading to a slight delay in the payment of salaries and wages.
He disclosed that the ability of the Aregbesola administration to still pay salaries, wages and pension, even after some weeks delay deserved commendation, saying “if not for the prudent style of managing the affairs of the state that has led to the creation of reserves savings, the 2.7 billion from the federal allocation is not sufficient to meet the monthly wage bill of about N3.6 billion not to talk of the government being able meet its other statutory financial commitments and funding of the numerous ongoing projects”.
“The establishment of the Omoluabi Savings Scheme, which mandatorily made the government to save 15 percent of the accruable monthly revenue before the downturn assisted government in a long way in meeting up with its financial obligations”.
Several states of the federation and even, including the federal government are owing salaries, wages and pensions running into several months without any hope of quick settlement, while Osun has been successfully paying the salaries, wages and pensions with only few days delay.
He reiterated that as the electioneering campaign draws near, the opposition in its deceitful conduct will not hesitate to go round spreading falsehood by claiming that the little delay is the making of the Aregbesola administration, ignoring the fact that it was truly the making of the PDP led federal government.
Honourable Akere said the desperate politician that are out to spread falsehood and outright lies should be asked what the situation is with workers in the employ of the federal government instead of them being allowed to instigate crisis in the otherwise peaceful State of the virtues.
On payment of salaries and wages for February 2014, Hon Akere said that Governor Aregbesola has ordered payment since last week when the money was sent to the banks and alerts for payment should be received by the civil servants in the next 24hrs.
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