Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, often dubbed the ‘dancing governor,’ has managed to outdo his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, by paying off the cooperative deductions from October 2022 that the previous administration left behind. This surprising move by Adeleke, announced on Thursday, highlights his ability to handle what the former administration couldn’t.
Why It Matters
In a detailed statement from his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke disclosed that his administration has settled another portion of the half-salary debts, bringing the total to seven months of half salaries cleared. Rasheed emphasized that Adeleke inherited a mountain of financial liabilities, including billions of naira in pensions, cooperative deductions, and half salaries from the 12-year rule of APC leaders Oyetola and Rauf Aregbesola.
The specifics are staggering. The state government disbursed N971,823,786.59 for the October 2022 cooperative deductions. In addition, they paid N716,401,287.13 for the seventh half salary installment, summing up to a total of N1,688,225,073.72.
What They Are saying
Governor Adeleke didn’t stop there. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to systematically settling all inherited pension, salary, and deduction debts. “I reaffirm my total commitment to easing the hardship of workers and residents of our dear state,” Adeleke stated, emphasizing the strategic use of state resources to cater to various societal needs.
Adeleke’s administration is not only focusing on financial repayments but also prioritizing soft infrastructure, from workers’ welfare to food security and educational bursaries. Measures to address the health needs of senior citizens are also in place.
“Our government has successfully combined soft and hard infrastructure. Our infra plan is progressing faster than many expected. Osun is on the fast lane of achieving a four-year plan within a midterm,” Adeleke proudly declared.
Bottom Line
In a state where financial mismanagement has been rampant, Governor Adeleke’s actions mark a refreshing change, proving that even a ‘dancing governor’ can waltz through debt repayment with grace and efficiency.
