Osun 2022: I’ll clear backlog of salaries, pensions, if elected – PDP candidate

A factional governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun, Prince Dotun Babayemi, has promised to clear all the outstanding half-salary arrears owed civil servants in the state, if elected.

Babayemi, in a statement by his Media aide, Deji Kayode, in Osogbo on Tuesday equally said that he would clear the backlog of pensions and gratuities of retirees, adding that they will also be receiving their entitlements as at when due.

The governorship hopeful said that offsetting the half salaries and pension, running into over 20 months was possible with proper financial re-engineering and discipline.

Babayemi, who noted that Osun and its people do not have any reason to be poor or wallow in abject poverty, said that God had blessed the state with men and resources, which could make it one of the most buoyant states in the country.

“By the grace of God, when I am voted into power and eventually assume office, the PDP administration under my watch, will clear all backlog of arrears of half salaries running into more than 20 months as well as pensions and gratuities being owed our retirees.

“This is not an empty and rhetorical political promise, we shall do it,” he said.

According to him, one of the surest ways of rejuvenating the state’s economy which has gone bad, is by ensuring that the outstanding salaries of civil servants as well as pensions and gratuities of retirees are paid up so as to buoy up the economy of the state.

“It is doable and achievable with proper financial re-engineering and discipline.

“This will lead to plugging leakages and preventing wastages.

“This, I promise, we shall achieve with strong will and determination.

“It’s disheartening that workers are still being owed tons of salaries necessitated by arrangements of half-salary modules which have pauperized them, while our retirees who have put in years of quality services have been left in the doldrums because they have not been receiving their pensions and related entitlements as and when due” he said.

Babayemi, however, implored civil servants and people of the state in general, to vote for him come July 16.

The party during its governorship primary on March 8, held parallel primaries.

At one of the primaries held at the Osogbo City Stadium, under the supervision of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as Chairman of the Osun Governorship primary, Sen. Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner.

While at another primary held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), Osogbo, Dotun Babayemi, was declared the winner.