Osun government to pay six months arrears to workers

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

Osun workers can finally smile as the state government on Wednesday made the decision to commence the payment of six months arrears and payment of monies deducted from workers salaries.

Aregbesola

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Osun government signed a fresh Memorandum of Understanding to disturse the money for the purpose it was requested which reduced the tension and speculation generated by the planned diversion of the N34.988 bailout fund received from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Chairman of Osun Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jacob Adekomi commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for putting the bailout loan for the backlog of workers salaries.

He said this while addressing journalists after a meeting with representative of government on the disbursement at the Government House in Osogbo.

 

Adekomi denied having problem or doubt about whether the government will spend the money on its right purpose as speculated in some quarters.

He said that NLC was aware that the money was untouched but was meeting with the government on the modalities of how it will be disbursed based on the MoU signed in July, 2015 between both parties.

 

 

According to Adekomi, “In order to ensure sustainability of payment of salaries in the state of Osun, the first disbursement from the bailout loan should cover the payment of outstanding September and December 2014 deductions, balance of January and February salaries and full payment of March, April and May 2015 salaries for state government workers.

“That workers in the employment of Local government and Primary school teachers be paid their first installment out of the bailout loan to ‎cover the payment of balance of March and April, 2015 salaries as well as full payment of May and June, 2015 salaries.

“‎That state pensioners be paid balance of December, 2014 as well as January, February and March 2015 pensions while their counterparts in the Local Government and primary schools be paid up to June 2015.”

The Peoples Democratic Parties in the state had raised alarm that Aregbesola had paid N20m to a contractor out of the N34.988m bailout fund with the balance deposited in a fixed account.

They also accused Aregbesola of giving conditions for workers before paying their salaries, adding that the idea is to use the screening to delay payment so that the money deposited in the account can reach maturity.

Osun government to pay six months arrears to workers