… Says efforts on to clear backlog of salaries
The Ondo State Government has expressed gratitude to workers in the State for showing resilience and sacrifice even in the face of daunting challenges with the payment of salary arrears.
The government in a statement on Friday night through its Information Commissioner, Donald Ojogo while wishing all workers in the state a prosperous New Year, expressed gratitude to them for not “allowing any rudderless opposition to incite unrest.”
The opposition PDP in the State had predicted that workers in the State won’t be paid salaries during the yuletide.
But the statement from the government dismissed the assertion that workers would be having a bleak celebration on new year.
“In line with his avowed commitment to accord the welfare of workers the importance it deserves, the Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has paid a total of 235 percent of salaries and allowances in the last two weeks.
“To this end, workers in the state did not have ‘a bleak Yuletide season’ unlike in 2016 when the immediate-past administration abandoned the state workforce in the face of excruciating economic hardship, in preference for hasty personal exit plans by principal actors in that Government.
“This is just as Governor Akeredolu and Organised Labour have both commended workers in the State for their understanding on the issue of delayed salary payment amid efforts being intensified to clear the backlog of salaries,” the statement stated.
The statement added:
“For the records, the 235 percent represent 35 percent balance of June and 100 percent for July paid together, as well the 100 percent of August. It must be noted too, that corresponding payments of leave bonuses in three tranches were also made within this period.
“For purposes of further clarification, while the issue of payment of salary was anchored on pre-payment negotiation as a result of the debilitating global economy, certain categories of workers were exempted from the sacrifice made by the mainstream civil service, especially in respect of percentage payment.
‘Hence, workers in the Judiciary, OSOPADEC and Owena Press have received 100 percent of their salaries up till October alongside leave bonuses. In the same vein, Primary School teachers and Local Government workers have received up to 37 percent of October including leave bonus.
“While efforts being made in respect of payment of pensions will not be relaxed, it is pertinent to note that the sum of N2.4 billion was expended on the payment of pensions in 2021. This represented the sum of N200 million monthly. This is even as monthly subventions to the four state-owned tertiary institutions were religiously remitted.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the resolve of the Akeredolu-led administration not to bequeath an uncharitable legacy of unpaid salaries remains unwavering.
“In the last three weeks, the doomsday opposition has been engrossed on the shadow-chasing path that workers in the state were likely to have a bleak season. Unlike them, we were more desirous to putting smiles on the faces of workers in the state during this season.
“More than ever, we were determined to confine to their time, the unenviable record of 2016 when workers in the state had the most horrendous season since the creation of the State. Workers spent their Yuletide season in hunger and pains. Some died along the line,” the statement concluded.
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