From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has assured that he would not leave unpaid salaries for his successor after his tenure.
He said he had vowed not to owe workers’ salary since the inception of his administration, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the finance of the state badly and hindered regular payment of salaries.
The governor spoke at the Ondo State Health Summit held at the International Culture and Event Centre (DOME), Akure, yesterday.
Akeredolu, who said his predecessor left unpaid seven months salaries, promised that all salary arrears presently owed workers in the state will be paid.
“I am glad to inform you that we made giant strides in all areas. Unfortunately, COVID-19 Pandemic came in the third year into our First Term with its attendant economic crisis which has since put government across the world in financial strait jackets.
“Notwithstanding the precarious situation we inherited in 2017, you will recall that we had settled six of the seven months arrears of salaries.
“We employed and have continued to employ qualified personnel for our primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities. We equally brought in several containers of hospital equipment worth billions of naira from the United States.
“Again, we established Teaching Hospital Complexes in both Akure and Ondo as well as established the Contributory Health Insurance Commission among other achievements that are well known to most of our health sector practitioners in the State,’ the Governor added.”