March salaries will be paid, paltry FAAC allocation no longer news – Osun assures workers

The Osun State government yesterday frowned at speculations that the state would not pay salaries of its workers in March in view of its dwindling federal allocation that has seen the state reportedly receiving a paltry N6million as allocation for February 2016.

The Government assured its workers that just as the Rauf Aregbesola administration had weathered the storm to pay salaries up to December, the government was committed to paying workers salary at the end of March, stressing that the considerably reduced FAAC allocation is no more news to the state.

A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, which was signed by its director, Semiu Okanlawon, explained that the government is, with the support of all stakeholders including the workers, executing a well-mapped out strategy to ensure that workers are not made to suffer for the dwindling allocation.

The statement reads, “The state received less than N150 million from October till date, due the repayment obligations for the infrastructure Programs it has been prosecuting. In spite of the heavy obligations, Osun has paid more than N5bn in salaries between the same period.

“FAAC is not the only source of revenue to the state, and the commendable support of workers has allowed us to stretch our reserves and other sources to pay workers on mutually agreed terms as well as fulfill our development promises to the people.

“As at today, the process for the payment of January salaries is at the final stages. Osun workers will receive their Salaries from this week in preparation for Easter holidays.

“The State’s today remains a major projects site employing thousands of our people in simultaneous the construction of major roads, models Schools and other infrastructure mostly to be completed before the end of the year. Osun is therefore fulfilling it’s obligations to the people and running government.

“The state calls on all that care to come to visit Osun to see for themselves the moods in the state rather than pander to rumours, conjectures and lies.”