9th September, 2015
Jamiu Yisa
Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that his administration would ensure the payment of workers’ salary arrears before the forthcoming Sallah festival which is slated for the 23rd or 24th of September.
Governor Aregbesola made the disclosure while addressing some workers and other stakeholders of the state in Osogbo.
The Governor, who described the state workforce as cooperative, said he personally shared in the pains they have gone through.
Aregbesola said the storm is over as the state has started a new era of development, progress, transformation and enduring peace.
He said: “By the grace of God, the state will come out again, we will pay workers’ their salaries before the Sallah celebration. Our government is one that is committed to workers’ welfare.
“We will also like to implore workers to join government in its effort to block some channels of leakages. It will be of great help to government and the people if you turn yourselves to whistle blowers by reporting any act or persons that are doing anything that will affect the state.”
Aregbesola expressed appreciation for what he called the workers’ commitment to his administration’s dream of transforming the state, stating that “their high sense of understanding and commitment by identifying with us during the hard times”, is profound.
He therefore urged the workers in the state to keep an eagle eye as soon as the payment commences by helping the government in fishing out any mischievous or fraudulent act that might be perpetrated by those who want to reap from where they do not sow.
The governor explained that the payment would have commenced immediately but for the verification exercise which the workers called for.
He noted that “We would have paid before, but the payment has been a bit delayed because of the unanimous request of the Labour Union to conduct a screening and verification exercise so as to serve as a prerequisite to any release of funds.
“The workers themselves demanded that they need a clear verification of those who are qualified to receive the salaries.”