Osun Government denies plans to slash workers’ salaries by half

The Osun State government has denied plans to slash salary of workers in the state by 50 percent.

According to Daily Independent, a source close to the Government House in Osogbo on Friday revealed that the government never contemplated slashing workers’ salaries as it had their interest at heart.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said that the Nigeria labour Congress (NLC) in the state jumped the gun and relied on hearsay, adding that the state government only provided what it had for now as salaries, with the understanding that the balance of 50 per cent would be paid later.

The source said: “Since the labour leaders are requesting that government should pay them five months salaries before they could return to work, and the available money is not enough to pay for five months, the government decided to pay 50 per cent for all categories of workers to cover two to three months and pay the balance later when the economy of the state improves.

“Up till 4.am on Friday, the government’s team was meeting with labour leaders and there was no where it was stated that the government intend to cut down basic salaries by half.

“The labour leaders are only acting on hearsay and this is not good enough.

“Our appeal to labour leaders is to show more understanding as they have been doing before because this administration is trying to do the best for them.

“It is true that the government cut salaries of political office holders by 50 per cent, but it is not to say that the same will be done for civil servants.”