The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in Osun has clarified that its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was not responsible for the payment of half salaries to workers under the previous administration in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the campaign council, Remi Omowaiye, on Monday in Osogbo.
Omowaiye said Oyebamiji was appointed Commissioner for Finance in May 2017, while the half-salary payment began in 2015.
He, however, noted that within a few months after former Gov. Gboyega Oyetola assumed office, the half-salary regime was discontinued and full payment restored.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the payment of modulated salaries was introduced by the administration of former Gov. Rauf Aregbesola in June 2015.
The APC candidate was appointed Commissioner for Finance in 2017 and also served in the same capacity under the administration of Oyetola for four years.
Omowaiye assured that Oyebamiji, if elected, would be prudent in managing public resources and ensure improved welfare for workers.
He also said the APC candidate plans to reintroduce the car loan scheme for civil servants and revive the food support programme – initiatives he claimed the current state government has neglected.
Omowaiye added that Oyebamiji would prioritise housing development for workers and promote mortgage schemes to make home ownership more accessible to citizens.
He said the candidate would also focus on critical sectors such as agriculture, education, health, transportation and power generation.
Omowaiye explained that with the recent decentralisation of electricity generation, state governments now have the constitutional backing to generate and improve electricity supply within their domains.
“This is a major opportunity that Oyebamiji will leverage to transform Osun’s power sector, stimulate industrial growth and improve the quality of life of our people,” he said.
He added that the party’s candidate represents a clear alternative, with a vision anchored on responsible governance and people-oriented policies.
Omowaiye lamented that despite increased revenue inflow to the state, there was little to show for it by the current government.
He said no amount of propaganda, falsehood or mudslinging would prevent the party from winning the Aug. 15 governorship election in the state.
