Paris Club refund: Ogun receives N10.6bn from FG

·       Approves N12.5bn for workers deductions, gratuities

THE Ogun State government on Wednesday broke silence over the amount of money received from Paris Club refund as released by the Federal Governmen’s secretary to states of the federation.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, while briefing newsmen at a press conference, held at the Governor’s Office, said the state received a paltry sum of N10.6bn.
Adeoluwa, flanked by the state commissioners of Finance and Information, Messrs. Wale Osinowo and Dayo Adeneye, said the amount had been totally committed to the payment of six months arrears of workers deductions, gratuities of 2,429 pensioners from November 2012 to January 2014 and severance allowances of political appointees from 2007 till 2015.

The SSG also added that workers in the state had been paid December salaries with bonus approved for both state workers and local government employees.

Adeoluwa while giving the breakdown explained that a sum of N5.5billion would be spent on the workers deductions, N6bn for payment of two years and N1billion for the immediate payment of the balance of the severance allowances to political appointees who served under the immediate past government between 2007 and 2011, and 2011 and 2015.

The SSG said the N1.9billion balance was sourced from the savings by the state government.

“In spite of the economic recession, Ogun state government has commenced the payment of December salaries and approved bonus for December. And to intervene in the socio-economic development of our people, N12.6billion has been released as for the payment of arrears of workers deductions and gratuities.

“N5.5billion has been approved for the payment of six months workers deductions out 12 months being owed by the state government. N6billion was approved to clear gratuities arrears from November 2012 and January 2014, while N1billon was meant to clear the balance of the severance allowances of political appointees that served under the immediate past government between 2007 and 2011, as well as those who served under this current administration between 2011 and 2015”. Adeoluwa explained.

He, however, said the state government would offset the remaining deductions arrears and gratuities as soon as fund is available reiterating the Amosun-led administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state.