By John Odunayo
Ondo State Government has begun payment of two months’ salary arrears of former political office holders in the state.
This followed the approval by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, last week, of payment of two of the three outstanding months of salary arrears of the former appointees.
The beneficiaries who served under the administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko as governor of the State between 2009 and 2017 include members of the State Executive Council, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Education Secretaries and board chairmen and members.
Recall that the Mimiko administration had left in February 2017 with seven months arrears of salary of workers and political office holders.
The administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had paid six out of the seven months arrears for workers and four months for the former appointees.
Governor Aiyedatiwa had in January this year paid the outstanding one month for workers and last week approved payment of two months for the former appointees.
Many of the beneficiaries have commended the governor for responding to their pleas for the payment within his first four months in office.
One of the coordinators of the group of the former appointees, Mr. Femi Bosede, said, “The governor has just displayed leadership with empathy”, describing the intervention as timely.
He said: “We have been on this for a very long time, but we must appreciate Mr Governor for listening to us and approving the payment.
“The struggle has been a tough one for many of our people since 2017, but we can now get a relief with the two months paid. I’m sure Mr Governor will approve the remaining one month in no distant time. We are indeed grateful to him.”
