Corruption struggle, mere cosmetic without workers salaries - Ajimobi
Sodiq Oyeleke
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that the fight against corruption may not be effective if workers salaries were not paid regularly.
He said this during the seventh Alhaji Femi Okunnu annual lecture organised by National Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Ajimobi, who spoke on 'State financing and over-dependence on oil', urged government at all levels to combat the new challenges being faced with new ideas.
According to the governor, bureaucratic and political corruption combined have crippled a number of states.
He said, "Today, most states of the federation are neck-deep in both local and foreign loans that have mortgaged the future of the states'. One other noticeable effect is the fact that the workforce that doesn't get paid regularised. Thiis wiill lead Nigeria struggle to be a mere cosmetic exercise. How? Workers may become corrupt in an attempt to survive. The large effect of poverty in the land is also manifested in crime of different dimensions.
"Ordinarily, states are supposed to make use of their Internally Generated Revenue for their recurrent expenditure; but the reverse is pathetically the case currently. A situation where most states cannot generate the required funds needed to pay workers' salaries is not good enough. The current scenario whereby IGR and statutory allocation combined are not sufficient for States to meet their financial obligation is indeed unfortunate."
Ajimobi, while making case for the diversification of states economy, bemoaned a situation where statutory revenues, wages and other heads were expended on public servants.
He added, "Consequently, a number of state may be contemplating retrenching their workforce, but Oyo State, we are re-strategising seriously to prevent downsizing the State workforce. However, this cannot go without adjusting to the realities on the ground.
"The recent bail-out is no doubt a sign that all is not well with the health of Nigeria's economy. Nigeria needs to wage a stronger war against the twin evils of political and bureaucratic corruption. A large chunk of resources meant for development is either embezzled or misappropriated. This culture of impunity coupled with brazen corruption should be curtailed in the interest of all."
Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, described the situation Nigeria is faced with as a threat to the survival of Nigeria as a nation.
"Our country is passing through its most difficult period. Even when we had civil war, Nigeria was not in serious challenges like this," he added.
On his part, Okunnu warned against the agitation of more states, stating that result to a challenge of re-distribution.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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