Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi has cleared the air on the arrangement for the payment of arrears of half salaries owed by the immediate past government, saying Governor Ademola Adeleke has never promised to pay up all the arrears in six months
He warned opposition APC to stop peddling lies to the public rather should applaud the government for being consistent in payment of backlog salaries and arrears which APC failed to pay in their four year in office .
According to Alimi, Governor Adeleke did not at any time say he will pay up all the salary arrears within six months of taking over the affairs of government as being peddled by the APC in the state.
The Commissioner stated this while featuring on a radio programme tagged ‘Frank Talk’ monitored in Osogbo.
He asked members of the public especially civil servants to disregard the APC members and their known antics , describing their stand on the matter as that of people who have lost grasp with reality after their defeat at the polls.
While stressing that the governor and the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State have worked out modalities of how the arrears will be paid, the Commissioner added that the present administration will continue to take the welfare of civil servants seriously.
According to him, “Yes, Governor Ademola Adeleke promised to pay the arrears of half salaries, but he did not set any timeline for the payment. There was never a time the governor said he will pay up all the arrears in six months.
“The APC since losing the gubernatorial elections have been going about spewing lies and half truths. I am not surprised though, they are now in the opposition, but I urge them not to mislead the people by looking for cheap sympathy. Adeleke has paid two months, they did not pay just one in four years, should they be talking?
“This government already has an agreement with the NLC, there is already a modality on how the half salary arrears will be paid and we are not going to renege”. the commissioner stated.
Responding to questions on the performance of the governor so far, the commissioner said he has no doubt started well on the delivery of his mandate to the people of Osun State, stressing that the outcome of the general elections in the state is a testament to the fact that people are happy with the Governor.
