Oyo guber: I’ll retain 25th salary payment date, pay earlier if possible – Adekanmbi

The gubernatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has promised to retain the 25th of every month as the salary payment date for workers in the state if elected governor.

Adekanmbi said his administration would prioritise the regular payment of salaries and ensure that the state’s wage obligations remained sustainable, adding that he would consider paying workers earlier whenever possible.

Speaking during an interview on Fresh FM, Ibadan, the former commissioner in the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi recalled that he assumed office when the state was facing a 14-month backlog of unpaid salaries.

ALSO READ: Customs rehabilitates healthcare centre in Osun community

He said clearing the arrears was one of the first assignments given to him by the administration.

“When I became a commissioner, that was the first assignment the late governor gave me, and he appealed to me to solve the problem,” Adekanmbi said.

He explained that he approached the Federal Government for fiscal support and subsequently explored other funding arrangements to address the salary crisis.

“The first thing I did was to write to the Federal Government. I made an appeal to them, and we applied for a fiscal support bailout. That was how we started clearing the backlog,” he said.

Adekanmbi added that he and his team also worked to secure the Paris Club refund for Oyo State, which he said was initially considered ineligible for the funds.

“Oyo State was not eligible then, so I made a move, and with my team, Oyo State was able to get the Paris Club fund. I ensured I used it to pay workers who were owed,” he said.

He said the state also explored other fiscal financing arrangements to support salary payments and reduce the backlog.

According to him, the experience taught him the importance of combining prompt salary payments with a sustainable financial system.

“The records are there, and myself and Governor Seyi Makinde have sat down and agreed on sustainability,” he said.

Adekanmbi added, “I am a problem solver. I will not watch the workers suffer.”

He assured workers that he would not change the established salary payment date if elected.

“I will not change the payment date of the 25th. I will rather even pay early and ensure sustainability,” he said.