In a scathing rebuke, the Osun Workers Union (OWU) has denounced Governor Ademola Adeleke for failing to fulfill his electoral pledges to the state’s workers and pensioners. Despite a staggering revenue influx of over N300 billion in the past 16 months, the union laments the government’s neglect of its duty to prioritize the welfare of its workforce.
According to the OWU, the failure to disburse deserved emoluments has exacerbated the financial hardships faced by workers and retirees in the state. In a press statement issued by the union’s organizing secretary, Comrade Gabriel Adeoye, the union highlighted the absence of timely payment of wages, particularly denouncing the non-receipt of March salaries by workers and pensioners.
The union’s statement underscores the irony of Osun State’s financial fortune, with unprecedented revenue inflows from federal allocations, internally generated revenue, and various government supports. Despite this windfall, workers continue to suffer, prompting questions about the equitable distribution of resources by the Adeleke administration.
Furthermore, the OWU expressed disappointment in the sluggish progress in addressing pension arrears, contrasting Governor Adeleke’s approach unfavorably with that of counterparts in other states. The union cited the example of Abia State, where pension arrears were swiftly cleared within 11 months, as a benchmark for effective governance in addressing financial obligations to retirees.
Calling for transparency, the union demanded clarity on the state’s wage bill and the status of payments to workers and pensioners, particularly in light of the termination of 20,000 O’YES Corps volunteers by the current administration. The lack of disclosure regarding salary disbursements and arrears under the Adeleke government has raised concerns among workers and citizens alike.
As tensions mount over the perceived betrayal of trust by Governor Adeleke, the Osun Workers Union remains steadfast in its commitment to holding the government accountable for its obligations to the state’s workforce and retirees.
