•Says Commission Not Owing N1.5bn
•Blasts Opposition For Misinformation
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has reassured the ad-hoc staff who participated in the February 22, 2025, local government elections that their allowances will soon be paid.
The chairman of the Commission, Hashim Abioye, said the delay in the payment of their allowances was due to the security siege laid on the Commission headquarters and its staff before, during, and after the election.
Abioye in a statement by OSSIEC’s Information Officer, Sadiat Isiaka, a copy obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, also debunked rumour that the Commission is owing the Ad-hoc staff N1.5 billion.
Abioye said the figure it is a sponsored blackmail on the Commission by opposition who are still surprised with the success of the February 22 polls.
READ ALSO
•Osun LG Saga: Ignore Political Paid Agent Calling For Return To Work, NULGE Tells Workers
•Ifon-Ilobu Communal Dispute: Gov Adeleke Imposes Total Curfew On Warring Communities
He said, “We want to assure the ad-hoc staff who received training and those who were actually engaged on the election day of due payment of their allowances.
“OSSIEC is not owing 1.5 billion naira, it is a sponsored blackmail on the Commission as we did not know how they arrived at that outlandish Naira figure.
“The delay in payment was due to the security siege laid on the Commission and its staff before, during, and after the election.
“We have not been fully on the ground since the elections were held. The shortlisted ad-hoc staff who received training will be duly paid, while those who made the final list and who were duly engaged on the election day will also be duly paid. We have given our genuine ad-hoc staff the assurance, and they understand the situation very well.
“We have not really been having full access to the Commision’s premises and offices to enable us to finish up our post-election assignments, a major part of which is sorting out our duly engaged ad-hoc staff.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
