A former governorship candidate on the platform of Labour Party in the 2015 general elections in Kwara State, Dr Mike Omotosho, has called on Kwara State government to pay salaries of the state workforce from the five billion Naira federal government intervention fund to enable workers in the state celebrate the new year and pay their children school fees.
Chief Dr Mike Omotosho
In a statement issued by the media office of the ex-governorship candidate in Ilorin,the kwara state capital,Dr Omotosho said there was no justifiable reason for government not to pay workers after collecting N5billion which the president specifically asked them to use in paying salaries.
He called on the government of kwara State to emulate states like Ondo,Osun,Oyo and Ogun who did not only pay off the outstanding salaries owed their workers, but equally paid pensioners and ex-political appointees whose emolument have not been paid over the years.
He warned the state managers of funds not to divert the N5billion received from the Federal Government intervention fund from London-Paris Club refund, saying the money should be primarily used to defray backlog of salaries and allowances of workers currently facing what he called "excruciating pains" in recession period.
Dr Omotosho called on Governor Fatai Ahmed not to use the fund for the light up kwara project, as being alleged in some quarters, saying using such fund for a fictitious capital project was a ploy to divert the common wealth and widen the nest of some selfish members of the political class.
Omotosho advised religious and political leaders to prevail on the state government to jettison it’s unpopular and insensitive policies that could impoverish the citizenries who have continued to endure the hardships they have been subjected to as a result of non-payment of salaries in Kwara State.
"It was unheard of and uncalled for that fund which should have been ordinarily use to settle the crying workers in the state who celebrated last Christmas in pains and sorrow due to inability to cater for their family needs as a result of unpaid salary by Governor AbdulFatai Ahmed led Government in our dear state.
Dr Mike Omotosho
“As stakeholders in the project Kwara, we are constrained to share in the excruciating pains majority of kwarans, especially workers in the local governments and some state owned tertiary institutions are going through due to unpaid salaries.
"We have it on good authority that in some instances, workers of local governments and tertiary institutions are being owed as much as 7 and 14 months salaries. This is highly insensitive. Something needs to be done quickly.
“While the affected workers are still reeling from the hardships, the London-Paris club refund came, It is apt and timely and one would have thought that such money would be solely devoted to payment of backlog of salaries owed a number of workers in the state.
"However, for the state government to be giving excuses that high percentage of N5billion would be used for infrastructure tagged "Light Up Kwara Project "shown that our government is insensitive and anti workers"He said.
While wishing the people of Kwara State a happy and prosperous new year in 2017 and beyond, Omotosho Called on all religious leaders, political leaders, elders of thought and wise men to call on government to order.
He said Kwarans can no longer be taken for a ride explaining that the era of politics of deceit has long gone.
"Enough is Enough,Kwara State government should not hide under the infrastructure light up kwara projects to deny hapless workers of their legitimate earnings"he said.
Better Kwara For All of Us
Singed
Mike Omotosho Media Office
Ilorin,Kwara State.
2 comments:
Hmmm, they better pay b4 they start magomago as usual.
With all they money they have stolen, they are still trying to horde more from the people. Can corruption ever end.
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