“Modulated Salaries Saved Jobs, Not A Sign Of Failure” – Omoluabi Progressives Tackles Adeleke
The leading political organisation in Osun State, Omoluabi Progressives on Tuesday lambasted the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration, accusing it of distorting facts surrounding the tenure of the former governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who is now the Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement signed by its Organising and Publicity Secretary, Oluwaseun Abosede, the group said the issue of modulated salaries during Aregbesola’s administration has been deliberately misrepresented by the current state leadership to malign his achievements.
Describing the salary policy as a product of necessity rather than recklessness, the group stated that it was “jointly agreed to by the leadership of civil service unions, government officials, and respected stakeholders,” adding that it was implemented to forestall mass retrenchment amid dwindling national revenue.
“The modulated salary regime, often cynically described as ‘half salary,’ was not an act of malice. It was a painful but transparent necessity. Contrary to the narrative being pushed, all civil servants on Grade Levels 1 to 7 received full salaries, while the policy affected only senior civil servants and political office holders,” the statement read.
The group noted that Osun was not alone in the financial crisis that necessitated such decisions, pointing out that over 20 other states experienced salary backlogs at the time due to a drastic drop in federal allocations occasioned by oil theft and a crash in global crude prices.
Omoluabi Progressives also reminded the public that Aregbesola cleared inherited salary arrears shortly after assuming office in 2010 and introduced reforms that ensured regular payment of leave allowances, which were automated under his tenure.
“Those who now seek to make political capital out of the past know the truth. The strategy prevented job losses and sustained the workforce during one of Nigeria’s toughest economic periods,” the group asserted.
They also accused the Adeleke administration of insensitivity following its response to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that the current government has chosen to prioritise “pettiness over patriotism.”
“It is pitiable that instead of mourning the passing of a former leader, the state government is busy peddling distortions. This smacks of desperation,” the group said.
Reiterating Aregbesola’s popularity, the Omoluabi Progressives pointed to his recent visit to Osun, where he was “spontaneously received by a massive crowd without inducement”, as evidence of enduring public affection for the former governor.
They urged the Adeleke administration to “focus on governance” rather than chasing shadows, warning that attempting to erase the legacies of the past would end in futility.
“This is not leadership. This is fear, panic, and insecurity. It betrays a very poor and infantile leadership which Osun State cannot endure,” the statement concluded.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
