The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, disclosed that his government took credit facility to pay workers salary in May, saying he virtually met an empty treasury.
He made the disclosure during a stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, held at MTR Hall, GRA, Abeokuta.
Abiodun said the intervention saved him from owing workers in the state having promised to pay as and when due.
“We realized that it was the 31st day of the month and I intended to keep my end of the tripartite agreement. I called the Head of Service and I told him that we must pay a salary. But he said to me that “you’re new in government and everybody understands that you just assumed office and we don’t have that expectation of you paying salary now. They (workers) will understand. There is very little or no money. We can talk to them.
“But I told the HoS “either they are expectant or not, it is my promise to the people that salary will be paid as and when due.” So, I picked my phone and called my friends who are MDs at different banks. I told them I need to pay a salary and this is the little I have; almost nothing in the state account.
” I requested for a credit facility to allow me to pay over N7billion which is the state wage bill. That day, my intention was that maybe one or two will oblige me, but the five banks that I called obliged me,” he said.
The governor said he felt a sense of fulfilment after paying the workers salary, promising to promote the welfare of the State’s workforce.
The meeting was well attended by chieftains of the party in the State including former Deputy governors, Prince Segun Adesegun, Mrs Salimot Badru, Senator Tolu Odebiyi, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Chief Mrs Iyabo Apampa, immediate former speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraju Adekunbi.
He assured that his administration would ensure that pensions contributions are forwarded to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) contrary to what obtained in the past.
The governor reiterated his commitment to facilitating good governance, promising not to say anything bad about the last administration in the State.
“I cannot begin to describe in the open to you the Ogun State that we inherited and I will not because I have made up my mind that publicly and privately, I will not discuss anything about that past administration.
“We have by far, too many things to do than to begin to be bogged down by what someone did or what he did not do or what he left behind. We have resolved to draw the line and to move forward from there. We need to be focused.” he said.
Governor Abiodun stressed the need for peace in the State, vowing that his government would frown at any act of banditry, cultism and hooliganism.