#OsunDecides2018: We’ll resist any attempt by Aregbesola’s govt to divert N16.7bn Paris Loan Refund ― Adeleke

AS the civil servants of Osun State government awaits the receipt of bank alerts for September, October, November December 2015 salary from Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday declared that any attempt to allegedly divert the approved N16.7 Paris loan refund to the would be resisted.

He said the hardship suffered by public workers in the State had become terrible, saying the government must not contemplate using the N16.7 billion Paris loan refund, recently approved for Osun State to pay contractors or to prosecute the coming gubernatorial poll.

Adeleke, who spoke during a press conference held in Osogbo at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said “you are all aware of the recent announcement of the release of N16.7 billion Paris Club refund to the Osun State government. The fund is meant for the payment of workers’ salary arrears and pension and gratuities in the state.”

According to him, “similar funds running into severely billions of naira have been released to Osun State government severally in the past, starting with the bailout funds. Yet, Osun workers and pensioners to suffer 34 months of untold hardship.”

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Adeleke continued, “let me make it abundantly clear that diversion of this latest release will be resisted. The government officials who are directly or remotely connected to the application of this new release must ensure that workers’ salaries, pension and arrears are paid without further delay.”

“We warn that any attempt to divert the funds for bogus contractors payments or for the electoral purpose will be resisted by our people. Every kobo from the refund must go to the settlement of outstanding salaries and employment of workers.”

“If anything contrary is done in the handling of the fund, we will ensure full recovery to the last kobo once our government is voted into power. All those involved in such criminal diversion of the Paris refund or any other funds meant for the welfare of the workers and pensioners will be pursued, arrested and prosecutor.”