The Osun State government has announced a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries and allowances of all political office holders and appointees in the state. This is coming on the heels of dire financial constraints faced by the state, which has seen it owing civil servants a backlog of salaries.
According to a press statement signed by Semiu Okanlawon, the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy,
Office of the Governor, the action is one of the many steps the state is taking to ensure the sustenance of the peoples collective even as austerity bites harder.
The statement reads, “We hereby announce a 50 per cent cut to the salaries and allowances of all political office holders and appointees. This is one of the many steps we are taking to ensure the sustenance of our collective. We are also calling on our people to join us and do their part in carrying the weight of change.
“Austerity stares us right in the face. We must embrace it. We are going to intensify our efforts at prudence and frugality. We will practise self-denial in every way possible.
“As we proceed on this journey of self-discovery, we hope to put more and more of our people to work by attracting productive investments to our state. The better part of our resources will go to funding capital projects that will create employment and unlock wealth. The State of Osun will rise from this situation and prosper like never before.”