We Will Pay Workers Salary Before Sallah Celebration – Gov. Aregbesola

Aregbesola, who gave the assurance while addressing workers in Osogbo, described the state workforce as cooperative. He said he shared in the pains they had gone through, adding that the state had started a new era of development, progress, transformation and everlasting peace.

He said, “By the grace of God, the state will come out again. Our government is one that is committed to workers’ welfare,” he said.

“We will also like to implore workers to join government in its effort to block some channels of leakages. It will be of great help to government and the people if you turn yourselves to whistle blowers by reporting any act or persons that are doing anything that will affect the state.”

The governor urged the workers in the state to be vigilant so that if fraudulent acts are perpetrated, he can be alerted.

“We would have paid before, but the payment has been a bit delayed because of the unanimous request of the labour union to conduct a screening and verification exercise so as to serve as a prerequisite to any release of funds,”

“The workers themselves demanded that they need a clear verification of those who are qualified to receive the salaries.” Aregbesola said.

Meanwhile, the Osun State government, on Wednesday, refuted reports alleging that Primary School Leaving certificate was a condition for the payment of arrears of salaries to Osun workers.

This disclosure was made on Wednesday, by the Osun State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye, in a programme on the State television, the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC).

Owoeye who described as incorrect the media reports pointed out that the circular sent out by government was not meant for the payment of salaries, but for monitoring and control within the civil service.

Owoeye held that the verification of workers under a normal civil service situation was an exercise that was supposed to be carried out yearly, adding that streamlining the civil service must be an ongoing process, be it public or private, in order to grow and remain healthy, such outfits need to examine and check itself regularly.

He emphasised that the circular and forms that were distributed to worker to fill were like questionnaire that civil servants needed to input information that were applicable to such category of workers.