The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, yesterday, raised an alarm over the N700 million budget for the second term inauguration of Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola. The party said N700 million for the swearing-in ceremony is too much to spend on such an event amid hungry workers who have not been paid salary in the last three months.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, yesterday, raised an alarm over the N700 million budget for the second term inauguration of Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
In a statement issued by Prince Diran Odeyemi, Osun PDP spokesperson, the party said N700 million for the swearing-in ceremony is too much to spend on such an event. It said, “Amid hunger by workers, who have not been paid salary in the last three months tells much about the kind of leaders holding the reigns in Osun at the moment.”
The party also brought to remembrance, Governor Aregbesola's statement in November 2012 that he is able to pay workers without owing their salaries. “I can pay workers salary every 25th day of the month without monthly allocation from the federation account and I will not owe them a penny”, Aregbesola said.
Odeyemi mentioned that Aregbesola's administration has owed staff salaries at different times even when the FG had given him the statutory allocation. It can be recalled that earlier this month, the Osun State Government blamed its non-payment of salaries on the federal government, saying the FG reduced funds accruable to states from the federation account, ‘based on the spurious allegation of drop in the sales of crude oil.’