By Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO — Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday, described as another demonstration of ignorance, claims by the former Head of Service, Elder Segun Akinwusi, that the unpaid salaries in the state were caused by financial recklessness.

Akinwusi, in a report published in a national newspaper (not Vanguard), yesterday, said the Aregbesola administration had borrowed more than its capacity, saying this explains why the state is unable to pay its workers.

But in a response to the former HoS’s claims, Aregbesola’s Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said Akinwusi, as usual, demonstrated that he lacks basic knowledge of public finance.

“It is not unexpected for the likes of Mr. Akinwusi to want to score cheap popularity and political points with issues of delayed salaries. But his reasons for the delay are wide off the mark for any intelligent rationalisation.”

Medical staff bicker over alleged pact

Meantime, the state Association of Medical and Dental Officers, OSAMDO, has denied reaching any agreement with the state government on the issue of seven months unpaid salaries of its members.

The association in a statement in Osogbo, yesterday, insisted that the claims credited to Osun State government that it had reached an agreement with the doctors over unpaid seven months salaries.

In a statement signed by Chairman and Secretary of the association, Dr. I. A. Adekunle and Dr. O. S. Subair, it disclosed that OSAMDO fully supported all actions taken so far by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA.

This was, however contrary, to the position of Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,  Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of Osun Governor, who claimed the last time a statement was released on the matter, was when he disclosed that officials of government were meeting the doctors.

Okanlawon, said Governor Aregbesola was pained by the situation and had been looking for avenues to get all workers paid their entitlements.