I won’t pay half salary in my second term, Oyetola assures Osun workers
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has dismissed speculation that he would commence half salary payment to workers after being voted for second term.
Recall that Oyetola’s predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, had paid workers half salary allegedly because of dwindled Federal allocations. Oyetola was Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff and had allegedly championed negotiations of the “modulated salary payment” with workers.
But addressing workers in the State on Thursday, during a meeting with the newly elected Executives of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Council Managers and Heads of Departments in Local Government, Local Council Development Areas and Area Offices, held at the Muti-Purpose Hall of the Local Government Civil Service Commission, State Secretariat, Abere, Governor Oyetola promised not to renege in paying full salary.
Oyetola said he would continue to govern the State with the utmost fear of God and that contrary to insinuations, all the gains so far recorded would never be reversed.
He said the welfare of workers and other citizens in the State were of topmost priority to him and his Administration, adding that the show of love to him by the workers had rekindled his hope in the project called Osun and that he would do everything to take it to greater heights.
“This government is defined and ordained by God. When we say we want to do something, we do it by the inspiration of God. During the electioneering when I promised to be paying full salaries, nobody believed it and today it’s a reality because God has helped us to be able to pay full salaries.
“So, do not believe the rumour that I am paying full salary because of second term. I have a covenant with God and I will not renege on paying full salary in my second term by the Grace of God.
Meanwhile, the workers in their hundreds, declared their support for Governor Oyetola and endorsed him for second term. They noted that a governor who stopped paying half salary, who lifted ban on their promotions and conversions after several years, who gave them minimum wage without agitation and who has continued to pay full salaries despite the challenging economic situation in the country, deserves a re-election.
Speaking, the State President of NULGE, Comrade Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe, described Oyetola’s intervention in the Union’s crisis, which resulted in ruins and losses valued at two Billion Naira, as both timely and helpful.
