Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has declared that the N17.3 billion last tranche of the Paris Club refund received by the state would be expended on the immediate payment of backlog of cooperatives deductions, gratuity, severance, furniture allowances and other social allowances of the state workforce.
The governor’s declaration was announced, on Thursday, by Commissioner for Finance in the state, Adewale Oshinowo, while briefing newsmen at the Governor’s Office Press Centre, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Flanked by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeleye, the state’s chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Biodun Fajobi and his Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) counterpart, Abiodun Olakanmi, Oshinowo, said the directive was in line with Amosun-led administration’s commitment to the welfare of the workers.
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He also noted the latest payment would boost the morale of public service workforce and enhance its productivity.
While thanking the civil servants in the state for their patience and cooperation, the Finance Commissioner, assured that the state government would always prioritise payment of any outstanding staff-related expenses as soon as more funds were available.
In his remark, JNC chairman, Olakanmi, urged the state government to address the pending 2016/2017 promotion exercise and review the contributory pension scheme in the state.