We’ll Not Abandon Projects –Osun govt

The government of Osun State has assured indigenes of the state that projects that add value to the state and people’s lives will not be abandoned.
The Director of Media and Strategy of the state, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, who gave the pledge assured that despite the current financial crisis facing the state, the government would see pending crucial projects through. “It is not in the plan of the government to abandon capital projects especially those that have been started before the financial problems of the state started” he declared.
According to him, the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola would explore all legitimate means to complete the projects for the benefit of the people of the state.
The Aregbesola regime has been under serious pressure as a result of the cash crunch with the latest being an impeachment attempt hanging on the governor as well as renewed strike by workers over unpaid salaries.
Although the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress recently suspended a six-week strike based on agreement with the state government on modalities for payment of the salary arrears, it again ordered the state workers back to the trenches last week- a move from which teachers in the state reportedly backed off from.
There have been fears in some quarters that the state government may abandon some projects in the state to prevent a reoccurrence of financial problems currently experienced in the state. Notable among these are the distribution of the computer tablet, “Opon imo”, free education including free meals and uniform programmes as well as some road projects. Some economic analysts had called for their scrapping owing to what they termed “pressure on the financial strength of the state.”
There has also been conflicting opinions as to the prudence of the state government, with regard to fiscal policies.
But Okanlawon reiterated the administration’s commitment to delivering the benefits of democracy to indigenes and investors in the state, despite the current economic challenges allegedly worsened by dwindling federal allocation.
The Osun State government had accused the Federal Government under former President Goodluck Jonathan of refusing to pay monies spent by the state government to rehabilitate federal roads in the state. But the Jonathan regime denied this claim.
However, the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari recently announced a bailout funds pay outstanding salaries to workers owed by states.