Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has paid another half of the salary debt with a pledge to continue settling the inherited staff debt, as he vowed during his governorship electioneering campaign.
According to a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, his administration has paid four months’ repayment since the governor assumed office.
Earlier this year, the Governor approved a memo for the phased payment of the 30-month half-salary debt inherited from the previous administration, as promised.
A similar agreement was reached with the pensioners for the payment of the outstanding pension and gratuity of N75 billion naira.
In his comments on the payment of the fourth-quarter half salary, Governor Adeleke restated his commitment to the agreement he had with workers to gradually pay the substantial salary and pension arrears inherited from his predecessor.
The Governor said he will continue to pay the inherited staff debt as promised during his campaign for the governorship, repeating that “my promise is to address the staff debt issue with all seriousness and political will.
“I told several rallies last year that our administration would swing to action and activate the payment process once elected. I acted when we assumed office, and we came up with a circular on the phased payment issued by the Head of Service on my instruction.
“I want to assure workers that we will stick to the circular. The implementation will continue unabated alongside other welfare packages for both active workers and retirees,” Governor Adeleke assured.
The Governor also assured, “I am committed to the implementation of the payment of palliative allowances recently approved by me for both workers and pensioners across the State, including local government workers.”