By Funmi Adekoya
Osun State Government has described as meddlesome, misrepresentation and misinterpretation of employment relationship between employees and the employer, the threat of legal action by an Ibadan based legal practitioner, Mutalubi Adebayo.
Mutalubi Adebayo had threatened to sue the state government for non-payment of allowances owed judicial officials by the previous administrations.
A statement by Governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed indicates that the lawyer affirmed that the allowances were owed by Aregbesola and Oyetola administrations.
It, however, notes that the Adeleke administration inherited from the two previous governments of the All Progressive Congress, APC, salary, pension and employment related debt to the tune of 100 billion naira, which is outside another state debt of over 400 billion naira.
The statement points out that the Adeleke administration had commenced payment of salary and pension arrears debt amidst cash crunch and equally competing demands of state expenditure.
“The public is aware that Governor Ademola Adeleke has deployed strategic ingenuity and uncommon resource management options to administer the state, delivering on various sectoral targets and also attending to the welfare of workers.
“It is on record that the Adeleke administration ensures payment of salary as and when due and is also working to pay up inherited employment related debt from the previous administrations. Many would wonder why the Ibadan lawyer did not sue those who created the mess while they were in office. We are even shocked that the barrister in question chooses to attack a Governor who is doing all within his powers to correct fundamental errors of the last 12 years and set the state on the path of sustainable growth.
“We must also put on record that Osun judicial workers have their unions and it is not in doubt that the union leadership is capable and able to advance the interest of their members. The unions are also not unmindful of the inherited rot and ongoing efforts of the government to holistically address their issues.”
The state government therefore urged the lawyer to avoid distractive and interloping activism but adopt other dignifying route rather than usurping labour dispute question which only the unions and their employers can undertake.
“As we assume the lawyer has good intention, he can rework his threat into an appeal to the State Governor to continue his ongoing phased payment of outstanding liabilities inherited from the previous administrations.
He may further commend the Governor for acting for all Osun people by devising strategies to complete abandon projects and gradual payments of outstanding liabilities”, the statement added.
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