Posted by Kolapo Alimi, the commissioner for information and public education in Osun State, has clarified the plan for the payment of half-salary arrears owing by the previous administration.
Alimi asserted that contrary to claims made by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Ademola Adeleke did not promise to pay off all wage arrears within six months of taking office.
Governor Adeleke was challenged by the Osun APC to uphold his election pledge to pay off all salary arrears within the first six months of taking office.
This was said by the information commissioner on Friday in Osogbo.
The Commissioner noted that the current administration will keep the welfare of civil servants in high regard while reiterating that Governor Adeleke and the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State had worked out details on how the arrears would be paid.
Additionally, he advised the general population to ignore the APC members and their well-known antics, claiming that their position on the issue reflected a loss of realism following their electoral defeat.
“Yes, Governor Ademola Adeleke made a commitment to pay back arrears on half salaries, but he did not provide a timetable for doing so. The Governor has never promised to pay up all outstanding debt within six months.
“Since losing the governor’s race, the APC has been spreading falsehoods and partial truths. However, I am not shocked that they are now in the opposition, and I kindly ask them to refrain from misleading the public by pursuing petty sympathies. Should they be speaking now that Adeleke has paid for two months after not doing so for four years?
“This government already has an agreement with the NLC, and there is already a modality on how the half salary arrears will be paid, and we are not going to renege,” the Commissioner declared.