OSUN State governor Ademola Adeleke has dismissed reports that he is planning to demote workers and pay them half salaries every month.
He described the reports as mere fabrications aimed at undermining the harmonious relationship between him and and the workers.
Speaking through a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on May 7, the governor said he had no plan to demote any of the state’s workers and would not introduce payment of half salary.
The statement read: “Osun State Government under Governor Ademola Adeleke has not and will not demote any worker. There is also no plan to introduce half salary.
“Additionally, we declare that the content of the said story and all the references to a supposed worker are mere fabrications to undermine the very strong bond between Governor Adeleke and Osun workers, both in the formal and informal sectors.
“The bond of partnership between this administration and the workers was further cemented at the May 1st workers day celebration where labour leaders praised the extraordinary commitment of Governor Adeleke to workers’ welfare. The May Day event also saw confirmation by all stakeholders that Governor Adeleke was the first Governor in Osun state to have workers’ welfare as the first item on his governance agenda.
“Members of the public and the labour movement also acknowledged that the present administration has been clearing the mess and the evil fallouts of years of maladministration by the APC in Osun state. Part of that acclaimed step is the template adopted to clear years of half salary and pensions owed Osun workers.
“It is, therefore, a failed hatchet job by the opposition party to allege that a solution provider, a workers’ governor and a performing leader of peoples’ government is planning any anti-labour agenda.”
Adeleke said he has been working round the clock to restore public confidence in government, bridge the infrastructural gap, clear backlogs of salaries owed to workers, rebuild the public service, sanitise public finance and digitalise Osun economy.
The governor urged members of the public to ignore reports about the demotion of workers and introduction of half salaries.
According to the statement, Adeleke is an apostle of good governance and grassroots development who upholds workers’ rights and the aspirations of Osun people.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M