The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend raised the alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state has concluded plan to sack no fewer than 10,000 workers out of the acclaimed 21,000 in the state civil service.
However, the modalities to be adopted in the alleged downsizing of the workers, according to the PDP, are being handled by a stalwart of the APC, that allegedly did similar “job” during the tenure of Chief Bisi Akande, when workers were unceremoniously eased out of service.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, raised the alarm in a statement in Osogbo weekend, explaining that, “we have it on good authority that a “situation office” reminiscent of the inglorious era of Alliance for Democracy (AD) government led by Akande has been opened inside Osun Government House in Okefia to handle the retrenchment exercise.”
“A key figure in the team that handled similar exercise for Akande is heading the team working on the modalities to be adopted to force many workers out of service.
“The first phase of the plot to sack the hapless workers was to create division within the labour movement to ensure no serious opposition is raised when the exercise begins.
“The state workers should brace up for moves by government to find fault and hide behind failure to report for work on Tuesday to sack them and should that fail, all level 13 officers and above, regardless of their age should be ready for retirement.
“The kind of subjects teachers handling number of periods they have per week, will be used to determine those that will be sacked, especially among secondary schools teacher,” he added.
While condemning the Aregbesola administration for lying that two months salaries of workers would be paid last week only to pay most workers less than 30 per cent net of a month’s salary.
He said: “We told him to sell Osun helicopter, which is serving Aregbesola’s family to pay workers, he refused, we told him to drop his ostentatious life style, he would not listen. It is now very clear that Mr. Governor needs help and he can only get one when he starts listening to advise,” the PDP noted.
