ADP says paying salary is an obligation, not achievement, knocks govt on pensioners ordeal
The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, in Ogun State, Olanrewaju Kazeem Sokunbi has described payment of salaries to public servants in the State as an obligation which requires no celebration.
Sokunbi said paying salaries is an obligation of any employer to his employees, saying it was sad that politicians were disrespecting the electorates by celebrating unnecessary things such as infrastructure and other obligations as major achievements.
Sokunbi emphasized that it is morally wrong for state governors to issue press release when it pays workers’ salaries.
He said, Every worker deserves his pay, It is the right of the worker and not a generous act of political kindness from the government.
It is a shame, some state governors now equate their efficiency in office with payment of salaries.
While some state governments unrepentantly continue to owe workers, a few others, have primarily decided to center their administration goals and achievements on payment of salaries in preparation for the next polls.
The ADP state standard bearer, assures that his government if elected will prioritize staff welfare, infrastructural development and pirsue vigorously its cardinal programmes.
“When we have employees recruited to do certain jobs and still engage consultants to do the same job. That’s double jeopardy.
“Salary payment isn’t an achievement, it is an obligation. These people worked for the state and it is their entitlement to get paid and the government’s duty to pay salaries.”
He said it’s total aberration for government to owe senior citizens who have dedicated their energy and resources to the development of the State, but end up in poverty due to non-payment of their entitlements.
Sokunbi said it is sad that the present government in Ogun State has allowed the debt owed pensioners to accumulate over its refusal to pay retirees their pension.
He described the action as heartless and wicked, wondering how those responsible feel whenever they read the stories of retirees dying due to lack of basic needs they often use the gratuities to solve through the returns they get after investing it wisely.
Assuring retirees of his capacity to stop the trend, he said that depriving workers of their wages or rewards cannot be justified by any means. He also said that as a Christian, he was aware that depriving workers of their wages was regarded as one of the sins crying to heaven for vengeance.
The ADP candidate for the March 11th governorship candidate said that compassion for the people was one of the qualities that leaders should possess, especially now the country is witnessing the worst economic downturn.
“It is sad to see a governor taking over a billion as monthly security vote, going on long convoy, junketing around the world in the name of holidays, sponsoring things that do not add to the growth and well-being of the state and yet cannot pay the gratuities of retirees.
Sokunbi assured that he would eventually change the trend for good in the fullest of time.
