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 administration.
Alimi said Governor Ademola Adeleke did not say he will pay up all the salary arrears within six months of taking over the affairs of government as claimed by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Osun APC had challenged Governor Adeleke to keep to his campaign promise of paying all the salary arrears within the first six months of assumption of office.
The Information Commissioner stated this in Osogbo on Friday.
While stressing that Governor Adeleke and the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State have worked out modalities on how the arrears would be paid, the Commissioner added that the present administration would continue to take the welfare of civil servants seriously.
He also urged the members of the public to disregard the APC members and their known antics, describing their stand on the matter as losing grasp with reality after their defeat at the polls.
“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 one for 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.
