The Chairman of the Osun State Local Government Service Commission, Elder Peter Babalola, has accused civil servants in the state of telling lies against the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola concerning the payment of their salaries in order to get credit from unsuspecting traders in the state.
Babalola said that most civil servants in the state had formed the habit of deceiving traders and market women that they had yet to be paid their salaries so as to be granted credit facilities.
The workers tell the traders lies to cajole them to release their wares on credit
He said as a result of this, most traders and market women in the state had been dragged into pitiable indebtedness by workers bent on getting wares on credit by peddling lies against the Aregbesola administration.
Babalola disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent in his hometown, Ikire, while hosting members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State, who had visited his residence to mark the commencement of their 2017 Press Week.
He, therefore, tasked journalists to expose the lies workers in the state allegedly peddle against the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola concerning salary payment.
Babalola argued that the governor did not owe workers as being believed in some quarters, adding that after being paid their salaries, the workers would always give false information to market men and women that they had yet to be paid their salaries in order to continue to get goods on credit.
He said, “In the Southwest, Aregbesola hasn’t been outperformed by any other governor in the area of salary payment. Osun pensioners have been paid till date and workers will be paid their balance when things get better.
“Bayelsa is still owing nine full months’ salaries across all levels. Aregbesola will soon clear the backlog of half salaries. The problem is that some workers now tell lies that they don’t receive salaries just to collect goods on credit from the traders. They tell the market men and women lies to cajole them to release their wares on credit.”
Babalola further tasked journalists to promote the achievements of the present administration of Aregbesola in their media and ensure that residents and those outside the state were abreast of the “many achievements” of the state government.
He said, “We have never experienced this kind of achievements and successes in Osun; just look at Osogbo that was a glorified council, it’s now looking great with so many infrastructures. Please, I want to urge you (journalists) all to report the wonderful activities of this present administration. Some of you have not been performing well in reporting the good deeds of the Aregbesola administration. I have knowledge of the administration and I can tell you that we have never experienced this kind of transformation.
“Osogbo was a glorified capital but it has been developed by the present administration. Osun is growing now. Aregbesola is performing well. He is trying his best. So, support this administration. Aregbesola is making Osun people happy.”
Delivering his sermon during the Thanksgiving Service, the Pastor of the church, Apostle David Oloke, congratulated the correspondents on their Press Week and asked them to continue to love themselves and tolerate one another.
Also, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State, Mr. Abiodun Olalere, while felicitating with members of the Correspondents Chapel, described them as “pillars of Osun NUJ” who had always stood for truth “no matter whose ox is gored.”
The Chairman of the Osun NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Prince Hammeed Oyegbade, said the annual Press Week was to appreciate God’s goodness in the lives of the chapel members.
