The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State is appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari and relevant agencies of the Federal Government to pay workers and retirees directly from Osun’s share of the 522.7 billion Naira funds to be given to states for payment of salaries and pensions.

A spokesman for the PDP in the state, Prince Diran Odeyemi, told Channels Television that past experiences triggered the fear being expressed by the party and people of the state over the coming funds.

Prince Odeyemi said the party was expressing the fear that Governor Rauf Aregbesola may not use the money for payment of salaries and pension, just as it urged the Federal Government not to back out of its plan to probe the utilisation of the bailout funds given to states last year for payment of salaries.

“We are concerned basically because the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had last week disclosed that Federal Government has decided to hand out funds to the states from the over deducted funds for the repayment of debt owed Paris Club by states,” he pointed out.

Prince Odeyemi further said that “for the efforts of the Federal Government to stimulate the economy, relying on salaries and pensions to yield the expected results in the state, we believe that the Federal Ministry of Finance should liaise with banks handling payment of salaries and pensions for workers and pensioners and not hand the money over to state governments.”

‎He added: “It is so unfortunate that the State House of Assembly is attacking the Senate because it is commencing probe into how Aregbesola spent bailout funds given to Osun State last year to pay salaries.

“We recommend the lawmakers in the State Assembly for refresher course in responsive and responsible legislative business for them to imbibe patriotic act of always staying with the popular course that will benefit the general populace.

“For attempting to shield Aregbesola from probe of special funds he received to pay salaries and pensions from federal government, the lawmakers are only sending signals that they partook in the diversion of the funds.

“To show they are no longer stooge of Aregbesola, we advise the lawmakers to immediately mandate Ogbeni to appoint cabinet members and conduct local government elections.

“People are already seeing them as enemies of the masses and when Ogbeni eventually return to Lagos, Osun people will definitely ask the lawmakers questions about their roles in the mess Osun is plunged into.” (Channels TV)

•Photo shows President Buhari.

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