Oyo State Ad-hoc Staff yet to get payment after 7 months of service | adekkatv

 

By Bolarinwa Kabir 

The Local Government Election in Oyo State took place on Saturday April 27, 2024. This is about 7 months ago. It resonated through out the length and breath of Nigeria as a well conducted Election as it followed the laid down rules and regulations in the procedures of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 and it's amendments by the NASS unlike the Local Government Elections being done in some other States in recent times because of the Autonomy of Local Government Funding by the Federal Government.

The Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, Aare, Isiaka Abiola Olagunju (SAN) and his Commissioners who worked tiredlessly to ensure that the Election followed the Laws of the Nigeria Constitution with a good service delivery.

However, it is very unfortunate that many of the ad hoc staff that participated in the conduct of the Election were yet to be paid their STIPEND after several months. 

The Chairmen and Councillors elected during the elections are now comfortably seated in their cosy offices and the Ad-hoc Staff who worked tiredlessly during the elections are yet to be paid.

During adekkatv investigation, it was gathered that some of the Ad-hoc Staff were paid in May/June but majority are yet to get payment in a twist that, divide and rule is now being adopted.

The people that have not been paid have visited the Commission several times in which the Chairman of the Commission promised to pay them, it has now turn to promise upon promise without any solution.

The commissioners in OYSIEC when contacted in Office shunned Adekkatv correspondence in Ibadan, the state capital.

One of the ad hoc staff who was interviewed in Ibadan, the state capital stated that, " We use our personal money for transportation, feeding and logistics after spending sleepless night under mosquito bite, we are yet to be paid up till now, Nothing is heard from the Commission and the year is running out. We are appealing to our friendly Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde to assist us in ensuring our payment", she concluded.

The appeal is to the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to pay the ad hoc staff the money being owed them.

The chairman of the commission was contacted but not reachable, as at time of this report, efforts made to reach the Director of finance prove abortive.

This is an embarrassment to the Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission and the Government of OYO State. But unlike the Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, his antecedents shall never allow his workers to suffer unecessarily. 

Christmas is around the corner, we hope the stipends if paid to these Ad-hoc Staff will bring succour to their immediate families. A stitch in time saved nine. 

Let OYSIEC be compassionate enough to pay their workers in case of other times, he who work, should get its payment.

Adekkatv hope next time on writing on OYSIEC, it will be on joyous to the ad hoc staff, it will be that the payment has been settled.