The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has berated the Rauf Aregbesola-led government of Osun-State for resuming the payment of workers’ salaries in full describing it as an attempt to make political gains.
“It is a shame that the ruling APC is trying to make political capital out of this. Payment of workers full salary and entitlement is a basic, statutory and routine responsibility of government anywhere in the world.
“More so, workers worked for a full one month and therefore are entitled to nothing less than a full salary; so where is the achievement in doing this? Therefore instead of seeking any glorification, the ruling APC should cover its face in shame for paying fractions of salaries in the first place,” said Alfred Adegoke, the governorship candidate of SPN in the 2018 Osun State governorship election.
He argued that in spite of the economic crisis, Osun State had enough resources to pay salaries and pensions but for the “profligacy of Governor Aregbesola and his henchmen.”
READ ALSO: 2019: No plan to postpone election despite budget delay –INEC
He said “that they have suddenly found money to pay full salaries few weeks to elections proves us right.”
He said the government still owed over 30 months of backlog of salaries and pensions and it had said nothing about when it would pay that.
He described the payment of full salaries as a Greek gift.
Adegoke called on the working people of the state not to fall for it.
“A leopard cannot change its spot. An APC victory on September 22 will mean another four years of hunger. Apart from the fact that I pledge to serve as Governor while living on the salary of a civil servant, only an SPN victory can guarantee payment of full salary and pension on a monthly basis and payment of all backlogs in batches within the shortest possible period after our inauguration. It is up to the people to vote wisely,” he said.
