Aregbesola denies plan to sack Osun workers

Rauf Aregbesola

 Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has debunked the claim by a governorship aspirant of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Segun Akinwusi that the present administration in the state is planning to sack some workers.

The governor said this in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, on Wednesday.

He also described as untrue the allegation by the aspirant, who is the immediate past Head of Service in the state, that the government owed N300bn.

The statement read, “Despite the dwindling allocation by almost 40 per cent since January 2013, this government still keeps its entire work force.

“So, I don’t know where you workers got the news that I will retrench some of you. This is just mere lies being told by our adversaries so that you can hate us.

“I am saying it categorically clear that this government has no intention to retrench workers. Rather, this government is committed to welfare and progress of all of you.

“I will only implore you not to listen to those who are pressurising you to hate us because they can’t do better than what we are doing.”

On the alleged N300bn debt profile, the governor lamented that those who ought to know and educate others were the ones demonstrating crass ignorance about the affairs of the state.

He argued that a state with such an amount as debt would need to pay N3bn monthly, which is the 10 per cent to service such debt. He said that Osun State did not even collect up to N3bn from the Federal Account monthly.

The governor said that he was disappointed in the former HOS, who he said reached the highest pedestal of his career and was now using his former position to confuse the people.

Aregbesola said, “If a state owes N300 bn, 10 percent of that amount is N3b, which is to be paid monthly to service the debt. If Osun is paying N3b as debt servicing every month, where does Adewusi think we will get the money to do all the massive capital projects we are doing?

“Where does he think we will get the money to pay workers’ salaries? With all the pressure mounted on me to remove him as HOS when I assumed office, out of compassion and my friendly posture, I retained him to complete his years in the service before he retired.

“It is therefore absurd and an act of insincerity and dishonesty for Adewusi to be spreading such unsubstantiated news about, saying Osun burrowed N300 bn.”
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