₦airaland Forum

Unpaid Wages: Brutalizing The Poor In Osun State By Remi Oyeyemi“The man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny.” - Wole Soyinkaby Remi OyeyemiJun 05, 2015211257I am beginning to be embarrassed by what is going on in my home State of Osun. I am beginning to feel ashamed that this is happening to the common and the poor in the State of the Living Spring. I am beginning to feel compunctious and distressed by the sheer heartlessness that is presently persisting in the state. It is like the State of Osun is being managed by bloodless beings that have no ability to feel and understand the ramifications of owing seven months salaries to workers of varying grades and the pensioners in thestate.Rauf AregbesolaI am also being embarrassed as a journalist. Why has it been difficult for this to be headlines in the mainstream media in Nigeria? The primary purpose of government is to cater and guarantee the welfare and security of the governed.The concomitant responsibility of the media is to ensure that the government does not renege in these responsibilities.I understand that everything is now political in Nigeria and in the Southwest especially where speaking the truth has become a serious challenge. But we have to draw the line where the welfare, security and the survival of a big chunk of our people is concerned. This does not mean that a single life lost would notbe tragic, but what is concerned here is not a single life, it is the lives of hundreds of thousands if not millions of our people that are involved. It is emotionally harrowing for any father that cannot put food on the table for his family. It is psychologically traumatizingfor a mother to watch her children go hungry when she has not been a loafer.It is already an eyesore how someone could be presiding over a government that has refused to pay its workers for seven months and still counting! It is tantamount to wickedness and cruelty ofthe highest order for Osun State government under Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to owe workers wages for seven months when he has been receiving the state’s federal allocation up to date excluding the month of May 2015, which is at least a matter of public record.It would be recalled that before the OsunState Governorship Election of August 9, 2014, Governor Aregbesola owed about three months of wages to the civil servants, teachers and the pensioners. Itwas not until the defeat of his colleague, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in June thatyear that he hurriedly found the money to pay the arrears to alleviate the threat of losing re-election. This is despite the fact that Aregbesola has been collecting the State Allocation up until June of that year. What this scenario suggests is that Aregbesola had the money to pay but did not want to pay? Why this was the case is very difficult to fathom. Is the same situation now repeating itself on a larger scale? Is this a deliberate policy orwhat? Does Aregbesola realize he is punishing the entire people of the State? What kind of priority does he have for him to allow the people of the State to go hungry for seven months?It is not an acceptable excuse that the allocation has dwindled. There is no excuse that would suffice under the sun for letting the workers, the pensioners, the teachers – people who struggle everyday to survive- to go hungry because they are denied the fruits of their sweat. If Aregbesola does not have a milk of human kindness flowing in his vein, then it is possible that he does not know the enormity of the damages he is foisting on the state. If he does have some milk of human kindness in him, then he ought to know that seven harrowing months without wages constitute economic, social and security threats to the state and its peoples.Yet, here is a man who lays claim to a degree of activism with some bent to socialism from his days in Ibadan Polytechnic. What kind of ideology is this? What kind of “radicalism” is this? And what kind of management is this? Any idea that ridicules the place of man in the economic chain is not worth its salt. Even red hot capitalism knows that without man, capitalism would be doomed. So, what excuses would a “socialist” like Aregbesola have for povertizing the poor people of Osun State?The Chairman, Finance Commissioners Forum, Mr. Timothy Odah, expressed concern over the low revenue generated for the month of April. He had said “the country is facing serious financial and economic crisis.” He also pointed out that “The Excess Crude Account is depleted already, and you are aware thatwe had earlier resolved that there shouldbe a stop on the use of ECA to augment what the three tiers of government sharemonthly. So, the ECA is currently depleted and it has gone beyond the level that we can get anything reasonable from it.” But he also criticized states owing salaries, saying the governors of those states should have made the payment of salaries their top priority after collecting their monthly statutory allocation.So, one is asking now, what is really going on with the allocations that have been received on behalf of the State? What is Aregbesola doing with the “little”and “reduced” allocations he has been given on behalf of the State of Osun? Where are the monies going? What are the current priorities of Aregbesola? Whatever such priorities are, could there be greater priorities than the welfare of the people? What are the more importanturgent needs in the state than the welfare and the survival of the people, many of whom are poor?It is amazing that social critics like Femi Falana are keeping quiet while this atrocity is going on. Where is Professor Wole Soyinka who is a good friend of theOsun State government? Is he keeping quiet in the face of this tyranny? Where are the Civil Society groups who constantly shout in the press? Are their targets selective? Are they also on the payroll of politicians too? Where are the conscientious people in our society? Where are the national and state leaders of the APC on this matter? Where are theremnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party in the State? Is everybody already bought to the point that we are so unfeeling, wicked and inconsiderate? Does this mean that we are ready to sacrifice the welfare of our people for political correctness?What is going on in our media houses? What has become of journalism for the ideal society that we all seek? Is every journalist bought over? Why is the Medianot shouting itself hoarse on this issue? Yes, I know that Osun State is not the only one owing salaries in Nigeria. I know there are other states owing varying number of months of salaries across the country. But seven months is a long time for an average man to do without any income.It is All Progressive Congress (APC) that is magnifying the dangers of corruption in our society and rightly so. It is the platform that they used to convince Nigerians to vote for the party at the national level. If you don’t pay a man for seven months, won’t such a man look for how to survive and preserve his own family by resulting to corrupt practices? Is this the way APC is planning to fight corruption? By turning everyone into a potential thief? What is “Progressive” about forcing the people to go on undeserved hunger strike?The state is dying gradually. Families arebeing dislocated. Unemployment is no longer the injurious mantra to sing about. Lack of wages is the new vogue. The security of the state is under seriousthreat. The economy of the state is at a standstill. There is no purchasing power for the greatest number of our people. Businesses are panting because of lack of patronage. Market women are wallowing in stagnancy occasioned by this circumstance. Transporters are tottering from the pangs of absentee passengers. Artisans are reeling in redundancy. Teachers are no longer teaching. Children are becoming certified vagabonds. The workers are on strike, there is not even any show of empathy through negotiation and discussion. The State of Osun is in comatose. This cannot continue to go on.This is tyranny on the part of Governor Aregbesola. This is really mean and inconsiderate. It is high time for Aregbesola to redeem himself. It is time to save the poor from agonies and psychological pulverizing. It is time for him to come down from the horse and feel the pains of the poor people of Osun. He should stop spending whatever money accruing to the state onany other thing until further notice. The only priority that is worth pursuing right now is the payment of wages to civil servants, teachers and entitlements to pensioners until things get better. There is urgent need to put an end to this charade and shenanigans.“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.”- John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961

You voted for a man that campaigned by standing on top of a moving bus and handing out rice. Sorry

I just wish the Federal Government interfere. It's already gotten out of hand. It's affecting me seriously as my dad is affected. I am in my finals as an undergraduate and I couldn't even pay up little bills for my special project. This must stop!!!
Mods should do the needful and let this make frontpage. We really need to stop this wickedness.

Ikengawo:
You voted for a man that campaigned by standing on top of a moving bus and handing out rice. Sorry

If so he is truly Aregberascal but Aregbetout is also fitting here. LOLs

Burlah4u2c:
I just wish the Federal Government interfere. It's already gotten out of hand. It's affecting me seriously as my dad is affected. I am in my finals as an undergraduate and I couldn't even pay up little bills for my special project. This must stop!!!
Mods should do the needful and let this make frontpage. We really need to stop this wickedness.

Federal govt should come and bail you out with oyel money


Better start planting cocoa


Lazy Taju

BackDatAssUp:
Federal govt should come and bail you out with oyel money


Better start planting cocoa


Lazy Taju

why do you think with ur butt? Must you always shove in tribalism in all matters? May common sense run and overtake you this month lagbara olorun.

Remi Oyeyemi, whose views I do not always share, is absolutely right to draw attention to the harrowing conditions which beset civil servants in Osun. Having tried to draw attention to the lack of fiscal transparency in some of states, in the past, I am very concerned about the ill-fated decisions which account for the current crisis.

Is Ogbeni truly guilty of keeping two versions of the state's wage bill as implied below? Inquiring minds want to know!

Samuel Ceezhar: A serious analysis of Osun state’s allocation and wage bill (the two versions)

June 4, 2015

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Aregbesola-300x336.jpg

Permit me to use this medium to analyze the speech (here) of the governor of Osun-Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at the inauguration of state house of assembly members. As we all know, speech analysis is the “in-thing” now, so, flow with me as we do this “trekking.”

I intend to use available data for this exposition after which you can make an informed conclusion on our case. You see, I live and work in this great state and I know first-hand, the effects of the financial crisis. The figures are from our dear budgIT, oagf and fmf.

It is straightforward: type in your stat(for budgIT) and year of choice, the year’s FAAC allocations will appear. For the other two, type in the month and year, the entire allocations for all the 3 tiers of government appears. I explain all this not because I think you are slow but knowing the social media peeps, one has to be thorough.

The figure you really need from all those numbers is the NET ALLOCATION. I believe now, we can begin the exercise.

ISSUES TO NOTE:

The governor in his maiden address to the house said the total allocations to the state from FAAC, IGR and other accruals are equal to N204 billion. Of this, FAAC and others excluding IGR amount to N108.3 billion.

2010: The Year of Oranmiyan

The governor came in in November and he declared the total allocation for the 2 months to be N4.2 billion. He also said the wage bill is N3.6 billion with a net gain of N573 million.

From the table below whose figures are obtained from the aforementioned sites (at least, we should be able to trust @seunonigbinde’s numbers), you will see it is different.

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture-300x64.jpg

The total here is N6.0 billion, no? If you deduct wage bill of N3.6 bn from N6 bn, ‘you go definitely get answer wey pass the net gain.’ I am not an accountant but I try to trust my calculator.

2011: The Beginning of the Rule

Ogbeni said throughout this year, he got N29.9 billion, had a wage bill of N25.8 billion and a net gain of N4 billion- remember, his words, not mine. Again, let us turn to the trio:

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture2-300x125.jpg

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture3-300x147.jpg

You will find that summing these gives you N48.2 billion with an awesome net gain well above the one above. Anyways, as they say on #Twitter street, #netgainnooni.

2012: The Year of the First of the Deficit

My amiable, quintessential, articulate and ever conscious (sorry, I finished from OAU) Ogbeni said we got N28.4 billion and expended N31.6 billion leaving a deficit of N3.2 billion – the first of its kind.

I am seriously channeling @DoubleEph. Come with me to our table:

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture4-300x274.jpg

2013: The Second Year of Our Beloved Deficit

Now, I sincerely hope you are getting my message. For this year, we understand that N26.4bn accrued to the state out of which N36.9bn was expended giving us a ‘whopping’ N10.4 billion deficit. Turn up with me to the table:

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture5-300x272.jpg

Adding them together gives us N44.7 billion. If you remove the wage bill from this number (or vice-versa), there is no way you will have a deficit! I can understand if by now you are confused, trust me; I thought the people from my village have upgraded their operating system-like they did that rich guy who turned to a monk.

2014: The Year of Oil, its Crash, and Revenue Drop

To cut the long story short, “our statutory allocation fell further to N19.3 billion and by which time we were already defaulting on some of our obligations on emoluments, which had also dropped to N22.4 billion, but still left us with a deficit of N3 billion.”

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture6-300x272.jpg

Before we continue, you’ll notice the asterisks. On ‘oagf’s site, the breakdown page for the states were absent. See here, here, and here. In fact, on BudgIT website, 2014 allocations ended in June. For the month with 2 asterisks, they made a mistake of writing “allocation of October 2013 shared in November 2014-here. Having done that, let’s get back to the numbers.

Now, I know we do not have figures for 3 months, but is it not amazing that without those figures, summation still gives N27.4 billion! This is what I call amazeballs. It means we would have comfortably paid the wage bill of #22.4 billion.

Before putting my pen back in the basket of strange accounting, brethren, let us summarize the first main point. If you add all the figures from the tables, the amount accruable to the State of Osun (excluding IGR) from the year of our Lord 2010-2014 is #174.1 billion.

https://44c5flerjap2ebayx48q151z.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Capture7-300x126.jpg

I am not trying to elicit anything nor am I forming opposition. As @ayosogunro said, there are two types of people in a polity: party faithfuls’ and citizens. I belong to the latter. My submission is this; obviously, there are two different figures here. Which one is true and which is false? If we say we are progressives, conservatives, fencists, etc., there has to be a converging point for us where true data is given and relied on. This definitely is confusing and I am sure people will take sides but if we are to be #activecitizens, we need to start asking serious questions about the figures we are given.

Personally, I think the governor owes us a breakdown of the allocations, debt profile and its servicing, government projects (completed, ongoing and untouched). This topic of salaries is a hot one as we are not the only one but if the figures above are true, then the governor of the State of Osun, @raufaregbesola, has no excuse.

I conclude with the words of @elnathan when tweeps were comparing FIFA with Nigeria. With these few points of mine, I hope I have been able to confuse you and not convince you of the need to not be just commentators or “mentioners” but people who hold government officials accountable.

Sorry sir, I do not want to plagiarize. Thanks for your time.

Whatever the case is; I am making a public appeal for the adoption and implementation of an Open Data Policy across all states in the federation, henceforth

Burlah4u2c:
why do you think with ur butt? Must you always shove in tribalism in all matters? May common sense run and overtake you this month lagbara olorun.

Parasite you will do well by start planting cocoa

If buhari bails out Osun with our oil money then that is the end of this useless nigeria

TheOtherview:
Remi Oyeyemi, whose views I do not always share, is absolutely right to draw attention to the harrowing conditions which beset civil servants in Osun. Having tried to draw attention to the lack of fiscal transparency in some of states, in the past, I am very concerned about the ill-fated decisions which account for the current crisis.

Is Ogbeni truly guilty of keeping two versions of the state's wage bill as implied below? Inquiring minds want to know!



Whatever the case is; I am making a public appeal for the adoption and implementation of an Open Data Policy across all states in the federation, henceforth

SECONDED!
That man mismanaged the inflow on excess campaign, calling musicians like osupa and all other non-sensical stuffs... He should be brought to book.

psucc:
If so he is truly Aregberascal but Aregbetout is also fitting here. LOLs

That isn't working anymore. People said his names are Ogbeni Rauf AreGBÈSÈ (king of debt]. With the above article, i think the name fits him better.

BackDatAssUp:
Parasite you will do well by start planting cocoa

If buhari bails out Osun with our oil money then that is the end of this useless nigeria

It's now glaring that you think with your brain shoved up ur butt. Always think outside the box. That I said federal government should interfere does not necessarily mean they should support with funds which is federal (after all, each state has its own allocation).

Burlah4u2c:
It's now glaring that you think with your brain shoved up ur butt. Always think outside the box. That I said federal government should interfere does not necessarily mean they should support with funds which is federal (after all, each state has its own allocation).

So how will federal Govt intervene? Is Osun a failing bank?

Aregberascal got himself and you guys into this mess, he should find a way out of his debt.

Next time ediots like you in Osun will not fall easily for cheap propaganda