Osun State Workers beg Aregbesola to pay 21-month salary with FG refund

The Nigerian Medical Association and the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State-owned Tertiary Institutions have called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay the arrears of their half salaries with the Paris Club loan refund.

The state has been paying some categories of its workforce half salaries since July 2015.

The Secretary of CASUOSTI, Mr. Olusegun Lana, said the balance of the 21-month salaries should be paid with the refund.

He spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Saturday while the NMA made the same appeal in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its chairman, Dr. Tokunbo Olajumoke, and Secretary General, Dr. Olalekan Ajayi.

Lana said, “With the huge funds being awaited, we appeal to our amiable governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, to please prioritise the full and total payment of all our outstanding entitlements, including the 20-month half salaries, leave bonuses, financial effect of migration of lower cadres and 2014 promotions, pension deductions and contributions, as well as retirement benefit bonds.

“The non-payment of these entitlements has exerted untold hardships and financial embarrassment on us. Many who are sick can barely cater for themselves and this has led to untimely deaths of some of our colleagues. We have endured the famine; it is time for our governor to reward our patience, loyalty and patriotism.”

The doctors said their members were not part of the decision to pay workers modulated salaries, while reminding the government that it promised to pay arrears the moment its finances improved.

Similarly, the NMA urged the state government to pay attention to welfare of workers rather than on projects.

The NMA statement said, “With the rate of work on federal and state capital projects in the state, it is obvious that the finance of the state has significantly improved. The government of the day has been economical with the truth with regards to its total income and the fraction of its income that is being deployed towards the payment of salaries and other emoluments.

“How much of the first tranche of Paris Club loan refund was actually used to pay salaries? We completely reject the suggestion that the hard-earned salaries of our noble members will be diverted towards infrastructural development.”

The doctors also called on the governor to pay attention to the state’s health facilities in order to improve service delivery to the people.

-Punch