The issue of the modulated salary adopted by the administration of former governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State during the economic recession that hit the country between 2013 and 2014 has continued to be a major contending issue within and outside the state’s political space, particularly among the archrivals who perceive the former Interior minister as a threat.
Following the announcement of Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the issue of the modulated salary, which many regard as half salary, resurfaced.
But during the heat-up of the 2018 governorship poll in Osun State, the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Aregbesola’s successor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, clarified the whole process, saying his predecessor never paid half salaries to all civil servants in the state.
Oyetola, who served as Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff for eight years, explained that the decision was a collective agreement between the government and the workers. He attributed the situation to the economic downturn at the time.
“We didn’t pay half salary. We paid modulated salary. Let me explain, level one to seven has full salary, we are not owing anybody. From level eight to ten were paid 75 percent. It is only level 12 above that earned 50 percent salary. When there was economic downturn, it was a joint decision between the workers and the government.
“There was a committee that was set up, the Comrade Hassan Sunmonu as the chairman where we resolved that rather than laying off workers, we believe the situation we found ourselves is temporary. Let every worker still be on the payroll and have what is available. There was a committee that now sit on what is coming from both the federal allocation and the Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) in such away that is allocated on basis of what is available and we give priority to payment of salary and pensioners.
“It is not the question of half salary all through. Having said that, I believe the issue of loan is not necessarily not inability to pay salary. The loan we obtain has to do with infrastructure. We cannot use that money to pay salary anyway. If we do that there will be an infraction,” Oyetola hinted.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
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