Finally, Osun Admits Receipt of Paris Club Loans Deduction

————Promises to Pay Workers Salary—————-

The Government of Osun on Friday officially confirmed the receipt of a sum of N11,744,237,793.56 as part of the refunds from the Paris Club loans deductions through the Federal Government a week after it was reported by CityMirrorNews

It would be recalled that the CityMirrorNews had earlier broken the news of receipt of the said amount on December 8, 2016.

Our Correspondent reliably gathered then that the money was released to the Sterling Bank Account of the state around 2:45pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, but the state had since silent on the receipt of the money not until Friday December 16 when it was officially declared.

A statement by the government, through the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, said the state has received a sum of N11,744,237,793.56 as part of the refunds from the Paris Club loans deductions through the Federal Government.

The state further stated that “based on the received fund, the Governor has approved an upward review of the existing salaries and pensions payment structure with the aim of further easing the financial strains foisted on the workers and pensioners as a result of the national economic challenge the country has faced in recent times.

“After exhaustive deliberations by the Revenue Apportionment Committee which comprises representatives of workers and the government, under the leadership of Comrade Hassan Sumonu; a foremost labour leader, the following decisions have been agreed upon as the reviewed payment structure:

“That workers from Level 1-7 continue to be paid their 100% salary That workers on Level 8-10 to now be paid 75% salary That workers on Level 12-Above to be paid 50 % salary In the same vein, passive workers (pensioners) on N1,000 -N20,000 to collect 100% pensions That pensioners on N20,001 -N80,000 to collect N75% pensions That pensioners on N80,001 to continue to collect 50% of pensions

The government, on the basis of the newly reviewed payment structure, is to pay salaries and pensions of September, October and November as from Monday December 19th, 2016.

The Government wishes to express appreciation for the high sense of responsibility, patriotism, and love for the development of the state as exemplified by their understanding and cooperation with the government.

The Government further wishes to assure the entire people of the state that laying a solid foundation for future development of the state is paramount. This is the reason for the ambitious and courageous development projects in education, roads infrastructure, health, security, agriculture, youth’s employments and other social welfare programs of the Rauf Aregbesola administration.

It therefore acknowledged the sacrifice of all in the course of the government navigating through the turbulent economic period, adding “the government wishes to state that with the cooperation of our people, our state is destined for greatness.