Aregbesola Constructs Road in Honour of Osun Workers

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has constructed a 2.8km road in honour of workers in the state civil service.

The 2.80km Olaiya-Itaolokan road is being reconstructed by Aregbesola who named it ‘Workers Drive’ to show appreciation for their understanding, support and sacrifices during the yet-to-over financial crisis in the state.

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Adelani Baderinwa explained that the ‘Workers Drive’ is a major road in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to Baderinwa, the road was named after the workers in the state to make their sacrifices, understanding and support for the Aregbesola’s administration indelible in the history and memory of the people of the state.

Baderinwa extolled the workers for their patients, steadfastness and rare commitment to the growth and development of the state in the face of financial turbulence that almost crippled governance in the state.

He noted that despite the mischief and lies being spread by a minute fraction of senior citizens in the state, the workers have continued to grow stronger and united for the development of the state.

The commissioner stated that Aregbesola and indeed members of his cabinet and the All Progressives Congress (APC) was unhappy on the payment of modulated salary to workers, just as he assured the workers that their welfare would be fully taken care of as soon as the finances of the state improve.

Baderinwa recalled that the government had demonstrated commitment to the payment of arrears of modulated salary structure with the payment of July and August 2015 arrears to workers on level 8 and above who are being paid 75 and 50 per cent salary.

He said: “Aregbesola never acted against the interest of the workers except when things went beyond him; and even then, he reached out to the workers leaders and ensure that the best within the limit of what is available to the state is done for the sake of the workers.

“For the record, the funds for the construction of roads and capital projects are not from the federal allocation or the state Internally Generated Revenue. The funds are derived from the loans taken by the government to finance capital projects.

“And it is the banks that offered the loan to the government that disburse the funds at particular stages of work done. Aregbesola will not use fund for the welfare of the people for project. The people spreading that rumour are mindless people whose sole aim is to smear its image.”

Baderinwa averred that good infrastructure is the bedrock of socio-economic development, explaining that the massive road construction put in place by Aregbesola’s administration have been connecting people, drive commerce and maintain global competitiveness

The commissioner maintained that it was disheartening that a section of retired workers who were obviously working for the opposition party could be asking President Muhammadu Buhari not to release another bailout fund for the state.

According to Baderinwa, such call was wrong and political, stating that that those who made the calls have failed again in their attempt to misinform the people and smear Aregbesola’s image.

“We are all stakeholders in our various capacity and history would reserve a place for contributions to the state development or otherwise”, he submitted.