THE standard bearer of the Accord Party (AP) in the forthcoming September 22 governorship poll in Osun, Pastor Julius Olapade Okunola has said no reasonable government should owe its workers salary, saying any government default in the payment of salary had failed its statutory obligation.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media adviser to Okunola, Mr Macdonald Oladipo, which was forwarded to the TribuneOnline in Osogbo on Sunday.
The governorship candidate of the AP was quoted to have made this statement in Osogbo, Osun State capital while unveiling his running mate, Alhaji Jimoh Azeez Kayode, who hails from Osogbo, in Osogbo local government area of the state.
According to him, “it is important to understand the greater economic benefits of paying wages to workers and its relevance in maintaining the smooth running of our state. Salaries payment to workers is routine and it must always be regular for the economy to run appropriately. Therefore, in modern economies, no one, no government should ever owe workers their wages in Osun State again”
Okunola averred that “I do understand your consternation as to how such a great and industrious people hosting essentially a hub of commercial activities and centre of tourism in Nigeria, have turned into such a decrepit state that continues to witness catastrophic socio-economic declines, sliding abysmally with no hope of recovery.”
“I understand the dynamics of the economic deprivation that continues to plague our state. I do suggest to you that we are not a poor state, neither are we a poor people. Not only are we blessed with wonderful opportunities and resources, we are born a great people. However, certain sections of our community have gone beyond hijacking our economy; they have used deprivation to twist our minds to accept poverty as a way of life”, he asserted
ALSO READ: 2019 Election: Seek support, don’t depend on me for victory, Ibori warns aspirants
Okunola, however, promised to attach topmost priority to the welfare of the masses and prompt payment of workers’ salaries, including a monthly allowance of pensioners, stressing that “I know the pains of not getting your pension as at when due after working assiduously for the state.”
In his remark, the Osun State chairman of Accord Party, Mr Olusegun Ayodele Fanibe said the party remain the only credible alternative to take Osun to the next level with men of impeccable character and dignity to pilot the affairs of the state.”
He urged the good people of the Osun state to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), with a view to performing their civic responsibility in the forthcoming governorship poll.
Not until you are there.