Oyo announces 50% reduction in salaries of political appointees

Oyo State government, on Monday, announced reduction in salaries, allowances and emoluments of political appointees as well as its spending profile with immediate effect.

The 50 per cent cut in salaries, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, is among belt-tightening measures by government to cope with dwindling revenue.

Alli, who decried dwindling federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, which stood at about N1.5billion monthly, said the state’s revenue base would be shored up going by the ongoing restructuring and tax drive.

Speaking on the ongoing verification exercise of the state’s workforce, he disclosed that about 500 persons failed to turn up for verification, while some who absented themselves from work claimed to be on religious pilgrimage.

Speaking in company of some other members of the state executive council, he listed  state government’s efforts to improve its revenue to include ensuring the completion of 10,000 metric tonnes of silos, opening up of roads for farmers to transport their goods, providing investor-friendly environment and the AgricOyo initiative.

Also speaking at the interaction with the newsmen, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Wasiu Dauda, announced the award of road dualisation projects spanning 28.5 kilometres at the cost of about N27.57 billion.

The projects, which will last between 12 and 18 months, included the dualisation of Saki Township Road from Oke-Ogun Poly to Ilesa Baruba Road (11km), at the sum of N8.23 billion; dualisation of Idi-Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barrack junction (7km), including an overhead bridge across Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, costing N7.18billion.

Others are dualisation of Agodi Gate-Old Ife Road-Adegbayi junction (7km), including underpass bridge across Lagos-Ibadan expressway at the sum of N8.53billion and expansion of Oke Adu Junction, Agodi Gate-Idi Ape-Iwo Road Interchange (3.2km), costing N3.63 billion.

According to Dauda, the state government accessed the special intervention fund of the Federal Government on infrastructure to fund the road projects.

Also, Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Isaac Omodewu, has urged owners of filling stations to obtain requisite Certificate of Occupancy or have such structures demolished.

Hinting on a review of abandoned property in the state, Omodewu urged all illegal occupants to evacuate, adding that the state government was set to acquire such property.