How we spent N34.64bn Paris fund – Osun govt

Osun state government has explained how it spent over N34.64 billion of the three-batch Paris Club fund received by the state.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, gave the breakdown of the disbursement at a press conference in Osogbo yesterday.
He stated that 80 per cent of all the revenue of the state, since the inception of the present government in November 2010, has been used to pay salaries, pensions and workers emoluments.
“As you are all aware, the state government of Osun has started the disbursement of N19.8 billion as salaries and other emoluments to workers in the state.
“This will cover the full salaries of workers for the month of August 2018, the arrears of the salaries and pensions for September, October, November and December of 2015 and the leave bonus.
“Governor Rauf Aregbesola gave this directive after consultation with labour unions and other stakeholders in the state.
“You will recall that in November 2016, the state government received N11.74 billion as refunds from the Paris Club.
The following month, N13.6 billion was paid to active and passive workers as salaries, pensions, leave bonuses and other emoluments.
These are made of N8.5 billion to cover the salaries of September, October, November and December of 2016.
“Also, N924 million was paid to cover the leave bonus of September, October, November and December of the same year.
From the same amount, N2.5 billion was paid to cover the pensions of September, October, November and December of 2016.
Lastly, N1.7 billion was transferred to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to cover salaries and pensions.
“Again, in July 2017, the government received N6.3 billion as the second tranche of Paris Club refund and paid N6 billion as salaries, pensions and leave bonuses.
They are: N3.76 billion as workers salaries, N504 million as leave bonuses, N791 million as pension and N935 million as salaries in the Local Governments.
“Since the commencement of the Aregbesola administration in November 2010, salaries, pensions and workers emoluments had taken not less than 80 per cent of the total revenue of the state.
Indeed, a sizeable portion of the state’s debt was incurred on salaries.
“When the administration came, monthly workers salaries was N1.4 billion while pensions was N200 million.
However, with the increase of minimum wage from N9,000 to N19,000 and hiking of monthly pensions to N500 million, monthly salaries and pensions rose to N3.6 billion.
“However, the latest Paris refund released to the state by the federal government is N16, 623,296,402.82, while Mr Governor has approved the disbursement of N19, 801, 328,271.22 to clear four months (4) of salary arrears, pension arrears and leave bonus with adequate provision for full salaries going-forward.”