By Gbenga Olarinoye

Osun State government has since last year introduced several measures to save cost of governance in tandem with the reality of the poor economic situation of the state occasioned by the stiff decline in revenue coming from the Federation Account.

The first measure introduced by the government to save cost and limit government spending within its new means was the introduction of belt tightening measures in the civil service.

This the government did in a memo issued in the last quarter of 2015 in which it quashed some benefits that had hitherto been enjoyed by civil servants. The memo also disclosed the stoppage of new appointments into the civil service and the confirmation and elevation of new staff.

Sources within the Osun civil service explained that government saved millions through this move since confirmation of appointments usually comes with promotion.

GOV. RAUF AREGBESOLA

Also, concrete attempts were made to clean up the payroll by removing ghost workers. After series of checks, over 70 ghost “workers” were discovered and removed from the government payroll. Similarly, since the commencement of his second term, all public engagement programmes used by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to engage the public have been stopped.

This is obviously, in conformity with the reality of the present moment about government finances. One of such programmes, “Ogbeni Till Day Break” which used to hold through the night at least once a quarter has not been organised in over 24 months.

Another of such public enlightenment programmes suspended because of paucity of funds is “Gbangbadekun”, an interactive session that used to hold across Federal Constituencies in the state. Aregbesola has also for the past 18 months stopped the physical exercise programme, tagged “Walk to Live” that was rotated among the nine Federal Constituencies of the state.

Even more astonishingly, the state cabinet has not been constituted more than one year after the re-election of Governor Aregbesola, while boards of many government’s parastatals and agencies have also not been formed.

Payment of modulated salaries has also been adopted by the administration. Through the system, government pays certain percentage of workers’ take-home based on whatever comes in from the Federation Account.

Government had put in place an allocation sharing committee headed by veteran Labour Leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu to handle the sharing of funds that comes from the federation account to pay workers’ salaries.

Only few days ago, Governor Aregbesola had sought the approval of the state House of Assembly for downward review of the 2016 budget estimate from N150.7 billion to N137.9 billion.

In a letter read by the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam at the plenary, the governor said the review was necessary to give the government the capacity to implement the budget.

A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye said the governor was seeking the approval of the house for the review of the budget due to the poor economic reality.

The letter read in part: “The current economic downturn in the country, occasioned by the dwindling revenue accruable to the federation account, it necessitate the need to reduce the cost of governance. “Therefore, it has become pertinent and innevitable to restructure the 2016 draft budget in line with the reality on ground. “In line with the extant rules and regulations, the House, through your office is being informed about this new development”, the letter added.

Aregbesola’s austerity plans

•No state cabinet
•Government boards not composed
•Ogbeni ‘Till Day Break’ stopped
•Embargo on employment/promotion etc
•No room for ghosts in civil service