Osun NMA decries govt’s insensitivity to workers’welfare, threatens action

The Osun State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has lamented the inability of the state government to put the welfare of the workers into consideration and offset the six months salary owed them.

They have also accused the state of giving unfounded excuse of dwindling allocation from the federation account as reason for the debt, alleging that political office holders and contractors receive their payments despite that, while making civil servants the sacrificial lambs.

In an open letter to the Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of NMA Action Committee, Drs. R.A Adebayo and Adeola Ajibare and made available to The Guardian, the association brought to the notice of the state government that its reasons of non-payment of workers’ salary in the state are flimsy, noting that other state governments of the Federation are fulfilling their obligation to their own workers even with the dwindling fortune of national economy.

The statement read in part: “That the State of Osun has received monthly revenue from the federation account up till March, 2015; that there is a general reduction in the monthly allocation to all states of the federation occasioned by the dwindling fortune of the national economy; that despite the non-payment of six months salaries to doctors and other civil servants in State of Osun, contractors and political office holders have been the beneficiaries of the available revenue accrued to our state from the federation account; that this act of government is tantamount to misplacement of priorities in resource allocation and distribution; that this situation has adversely affected the welfare and well-being of not only members, but the entire citizenry of the State of Osun. “

The association subsequently deduced that the actions of the government show that it is simply unwilling to pay the salaries of the state’s civil servants.

They finally urged them to without further delay, clear the outstanding salaries and deductions, adding, “it is our hope that the government will respond positively to this request in the interest of the general good. Failure of which the State Government of Osun be held responsible for any further action(s) taken by NMA afterwards.”