Jubilation in Osun as Adeleke commences payment of salary arrears
By Jeleel Olawale
At some minutes past noon Wednesday, 15th of February, 2023, there was sudden eruption of celebration across the various government agencies and parastatals in Osun State, reminiscent of the biblical deliverance of the people of Israelites from the hand of King Pharaoh. One begins to wonder what could bring the sudden expression of joy amidst the current national mood occasioned by the duo of naira and fuel scarcity.
Alas, true to his words and in fulfillment of the earlier approval given by the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke via the office of the Head of Service for the commencement of payment of salary arrears to the State civil servants, the payment commenced on Wednesday as credit alert started rolling in to the various civil servants who have been owed 30 months’ Salary arrears by the previous administration.
Our correspondent who went round the State secretariat and some agencies as at the time of filling this report observed that the workers were visibly happy and expressed their profound gratitude that numerous promises from the past administration which went unfulfilled, Governor Adeleke under three months in office, despite the humongous debt inherited and the State of the economy has fulfilled his electoral promise of offsetting the salary arrears of the past administrations.
Expressing gratitude to Governor Ademola Adeleke on behalf of the State workforce, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Osun State, Comrade Adekola Adebowale described Governor Adeleke as a man of his words whose commitment to workers welfare is no more in doubt.
Adebowale said Osun State workers will never forget the good gesture of the State Governor as according to him, many of their members have gone under wilth many others incapacitated due to lack of adequate welfare on the part of past administration, especially on the modulated salary arrears.
Also speaking to our correspondent, a civil servant from the Ministry of Commerce, Corporative and Empowerment, who doesn’t want to have her name in print, expressed Joy as she declared that the civil servants couldn’t believe that the payment could ever materialise again in their lifetime,
“When the Governor announced the plan to pay the salary arrears, we didn’t believe it. We even thought where is he going to get the money. I was pleasantly surprise to receive the alert this afternoon and that’s exactly why everyone is jumping in excitement,” she commented.
Another civil servant from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said that most of the civil servants had already forgone the payment.
“Today’s payment indeed came at a great surprise to everyone. We already thought the money has gone. Even when Governor Adeleke made the promise during the campaign, we didn’t believe him,” he added.
In all, it was jubilation galore for workers in the State civil service, which expectedly will boost the PAYE driven economy of the State.
