AREGBESOLA DENIES PAYING SELF, OTHERS N50M SEVERANCE ALLOWANCE EACH
The
governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has described as unreasonable and
ludicrous the allegation that his government paid N50 million to him and each
of the political office holders that served between November 2010 and November
2014 as severance allowance.
The
allegation was purportedly made in a statement by factional chairman of retirees
in the state, Omoniyi Ilesanmi, accusing Aregbesola of callousness.
But
the governor in a statement released Thursday by his media adviser, Sola
Fasure, decried the allegation. He described it as not only preposterous but
also malicious and false in its entirety.
The
statement read in part, “It is absolutely unreasonable and ludicrous for anyone
to suggest that a state government will give each political office holder a N50
million severance allowance at this period when every available kobo is being mopped
to pay salaries and pensions, provide infrastructure and social services and
run a modest government.
“For
the avoidance of doubt, the severance allowance of political office holders has
been set in accordance with the State of Osun Public/Political Office Holders
and Revised Remuneration Package Law 2007, section 4 (1) and (2) schedule (B)
which recommends 300 per cent of basic salary as severance allowance.
“This
recommendation was also taken on advisement from the Revenue Mobilisation
Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) which recommends 300 per cent of basic
salaries. However, the State of Osun law referenced above has a proviso of
beneficiaries having successfully completed a full term or on pro rata basis,
after a minimum of two year period of tenure.
“With this arrangement, only the governor and
his deputy are entitled to N6.6 million and N6.3 million respectively. However,
the governor returned his cheque to the treasury, having waved his right to
earn salary since he assumed office.
“Two
principal officers qualified for N4 million each, 15 political office holders
received N3 million each, and while 18 others received N2.8 million each. This
was over a year ago.
“Governor
Aregbesola demonstrated sensitivity to the financial situation in the state
when he did not constitute a cabinet for more than two years. When he
eventually did, he put all political office holders on half salary.
“How
then could he have paid N50 million to each political office holders as
severance allowance?”
Aregbesola, had maintained that it has remained the desire of his administration to offset the outstanding pensions and gratuities put at about N5 billion but that he has been hindered due to meager resources.
Aregbesola, had maintained that it has remained the desire of his administration to offset the outstanding pensions and gratuities put at about N5 billion but that he has been hindered due to meager resources.
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