Civil servants in Osun State can finally start breathing properly as the Osun state government has commenced payment of their full salaries once more.
This information was made known to the public by the chairman of the Osun state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Jacob Adekomi.
Mr. Adekomi revealed that the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola has recommenced the payment of full salaries to all categories of workers in the state civil service.
This comes after months of half payments to the workers who had gone nearly seven months without salaries prior to that.
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The Osun state NLC chairman said local government workers and primary school teachers had started receiving payment alerts from their banks, adding that he had also received an alert of full salary for the month of July.
“The state government has started paying us full salaries. But we are waiting for the payment of arrears of the balance of modulated salaries. We have already given them a 21-day ultimatum and we hope they will pay the arrears before the expiration of the ultimatum.
“Negotiation will soon commence and we are waiting for them to start paying us the arrears. But I can confirm that they have started paying us full salaries and I received the alert yesterday.” The NLC chieftain revealed further.
Osun state civil servants who retired between 2011/2012 have however said they are yet to start receiving their full pensions as promised by the state government.
The secretary of the retirees’ forum, Mr. Sola Olojode said the Osun state head of service, Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega promised the pensioners that they would also receive their full pensions from July but nothing had been done as at now.
According to Olojede
“We went to the Head of Service two days ago and he assured us that we would be paid full pension for July. We will make noise again if we are not paid as they promised.
He also accused the state government of giving retirees dud cheques which bounced as soon as the retirees tried to cash them. He asked the retirees with the dud cheques to try to cash them again while expressing disbelief at the situation.
“The cheques of N100, 000 out of millions of naira gratuities bounced. Can you imagine that? The cheques were given to teachers that retired through Teachers and Establishment and Pension Office.” He bemoaned.
The State NLC chairman however also commended Governor Aregbesola for promoting civil servants without the pre-requisite examinations and also for the employment of thousands of Osun youths into the state youth empowerment scheme.
He also lauded the governor for the on-going conversion of workers from one cadre to the other, adding that refurbishment of office equipment and necessary items for effective service delivery would soon be completed.
After commending the Osun state government, the NLC chairman assured the state workers that their salary arrears as well as leave bonuses will be paid and the payments will reflect their new positions as they had all been promoted without proper examinations.