Factional Pensioners’ Group Lie on Payment of Severance Allowance - Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has debunk the statement credited to a faction of the associations of retired civil servants in the state that the he paid the severance allowance of political office holders who served between November 2010 and November 2014 with a sum of N50 million each.

 

Aregbasola said this in a press statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Sola Fasure in Osogbo in which he said that the information given by the Forum of 2011/2012 Pensioners, led by Mr Omoniyi Ilesanmi was untrue and misleading and baseless.  

 

According to him, “the allegation was preposterous, malicious and false in its entirety and urged people of the state to disregard it. He added that it would be very unreasonable 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 was 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 to political office holders as severance allowance?”

 

“Mr Ilesanmi and his ilk have embarked on a campaign of calumny against the government, hiding under the plight of pensioners, telling barefaced and egregious lies, making outrageous claim and inciting the people against the government.”

 

The governor urged the media and members of the public to always approach the Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor or visit the Ministry of Finance as well as the Office of the Accountant General for clarification and relevant information on any financial matter.