Full Salary Demand: Osun Govt Replies Workers, Says It Is Legitimate

Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Adelani Baderinwa has said that the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been sensitive to the welfare of workers in the State since the beginning of his administration.

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PRESS STATEMENT

AREGBESOLA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SENSITIVE TO WORKERS WELFARE

We reckon with the recent letter issued by the labour unions in the State of Osun in which they demanded for full payment of salary and other emoluments. We see it as legitimate demands and commitment to the welfare of the workers in general.

The government appeals to their patients and understanding as usual. The financial problem afflicting the state is yet to go away.

The truth of the matter is that, the State of Osun has enjoyed industrial harmony based on mutual understanding between government and the labour to the extent that welfare of all citizens and workers in particular have always been the fulcrum of all decisions and policies made by Aregbesola’s administration since it came on board about seven years ago.

It would be recalled that before the PDP corrupt tendencies and maladministration that brought about the financial crisis and economic woes, the state of Osun had been most workers friendly and had been fulfilling all its responsibilities and obligations to the workforce in the state without any let or hindrance. It is on record that Aregbesola is the first governor to pay 13^th month salary when the state was financially rosy.

We stress that Ogbeni 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. The story of modulated salary payment easily comes to mind as reference points.

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.

The administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is very responsive to the plight and welfare of the workers. The governor, naturally, does not need to be told or put pressure on before doing the right thing for the benefit of the workers.

Government appreciates the steadfastness, the sacrifice and level of understanding of the workers, while promising that no stone will be left unturned in making sure that their welfare is well taken care of whether in or out of service.

We thank the workers and the general people of Osun for supporting the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

 

Signed

Adelani Baderinwa

Commissioner for Information and Strategy

State of Osun