Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Sunday blamed the general down turn of economic activities in the country for the inability of the state to pay its civil servants their full salaries. He said he was not happy paying half salaries to civil servants in the state.
He further revealed that not only civil servants in the state were affected but also all political appointees in the state are affected by the cash crunch.
The information was disclosed to news men in a statement released by Adelani Baderinwa, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy after the federal government team on digital switch over visited Governor Aregbesola at the governor’s office in Osogbo.
He quoted Aregbesola as saying “economic downturn induced by brazen corruption, wanton theft of crude oil and mismanagement of the country’s resources by the last administration forced the state to what it was witnessing today.’’
According to the governor, no reasonable person or government will be happy not performing its required responsibility.
He added that “we are not happy paying modulated salary to our workers in the civil service and political appointees. We are compelled by financial reality.
“Contrary to the lies around, it is not all our workers that receive half salary. “Workers on levels 1-7, being the most vulnerable and the largest chunk of the workforce are being paid full salary. “Workers on levels 8-10 receive 75 per cent of their salary, while levels 12 upward collect 50 per cent of their salary.
“The workers have shown maturity, support and understanding. We acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices and support of the workers.”
See Director who commits suicide due to non-payment of salaries
Meanwhile, staff members of National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) are currently protesting in Abuja to mark the commencement a three-day warning strike today.
They are calling for the removal of the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari.
The workers are also protesting due to alleged non-promotion of staff in the commission, the absence of work tools, and non-payments of their allowances.
