Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has said that revenue inflows accruing to the state must geometrically increase for the government to be able to deliver promptly on all projections set by his administration while also promising to offset the total sum of N34 billion salary arrears to workers.
The governor who said this while receiving the report of the Committee set up on the Payment of Arrears of Salaries of Public Servants in the state said the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, profile of the state has to be taken to a proportion above the recurrent expenditures of the state for meaningful development to take place.
Akeredolu who commended the workers for their resilience over the unpaid seven months salaries by the immediate past administration reassured them of his administration’s commitment to prompt pay their salaries henceforth.
Earlier in his remarks, the deputy governor of the state , Hon Agboola Ajayi who was also the chairman of the committee said the salary arrears owed workers by the previous administration amounted to N38.57 billion, while N41.5biliion was owed to retired personnel as gratuities.
According to him the APC government took over in February 24th 2017 and have paid salaries for February, March, April 2017 and August, 2016 adding that what is outstanding as salaries for five months is N34.5b while N41.5b representing outstanding gratuities across board”.
The Committee, which was inaugurated on March 7 shortly after the Akeredolu government took over was to deliberate and report on ways of offsetting seven months’ salary arrears owed by the previous administration.
Governor Akeredolu, however, vowed to do everything possible to offset the salary arrears owed workers in the state.
Akeredolu said, “I would love to reiterate my commitment to make the welfare of the workers the priority of this administration. They are goose that lay the Golden Egg and I appreciate their efforts and commitment to develop Ondo State and take it to the next level.”
He maintained that his administration remained determined to implement its cardinal programmes as outlined in his campaign.
