The Oyo State Government has said 60 per cent of the state’s share of the latest Paris Club refund of N7.9billion will be expended on the payment of the salaries, wages and pension of workers in the state.
The state government has also assured that its decision to spend 100 per cent of its Federal allocations on workers’ welfare had not changed.
It explained that about 80 per cent of its much-touted debt profile of N115billion by political opponents was made up of salaries, gratuities, pensions and wages owed workers and pensioners in the state, stressing that it also included gratuities and pensions owed before the advent of the Governor Ajimobi administration.
The state Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, gave these explanations while featuring on a live programme on a private radio station in Ibadan.
Adekanmbi added that the remaining 20 per cent of the debt was largely composed of the financial support from the Federal Government, including budget support and infrastructural loan.
The commissioner said that the Abiola Ajimobi administration was committed to the welfare of the entire people of the state, hence, its decision to channel 60 per cent of the first disbursement of the first tranche of the Paris Club Refund to workers’ welfare.
This, he said, was more than the 50 per cent suggested by President Muhammad Buhari.
According to Adekanmbi, “We will all recall that President Buhari has told state governments to use at least 50 per cent of the refund for workers’ wages, salaries and allowances. We are doing more than the 50 per cent in Oyo State. When we collected the first tranche of N7.2billion, we used 60 per cent for workers’ salaries and wages. We also collected a part two of the inflow of the sum of N5.003billion and committed 100 per cent to salaries and salary related payments to workers in the state.
We’ve paid two months salaries three times consecutively and the governor has not relented
“We have paid two months salaries three times consecutively and the governor has not relented in his efforts to clear all the outstanding wages. We will all remember that Oyo State was initially excluded from the refund, but the governor’s tenacity and strong will ensured that we also got our share.
“It amazes me when people throw figures in the air without proper explanation or understanding. It is very disappointing when people, who claim to be knowledgeable, bandy figures for mischief with malicious intent for cheap political gain. Our books are available for all to see and the leadership of the workers’ unions meet with us regularly. We devote 100 per cent of our Federal allocations to workers’ salaries and salary related and we did not borrow all the N115billion debt.
“About 80 per cent of it is an accumulation of outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities, including those from previous administrations. We will do all within our capacity to always set the records straight and put things in proper perspective with a view to enlightening the public.”
