It’s high temptation for a governor earning $24,000 to preside over $500m budget – Oyo governor

 

 

 

 

The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has declared his readiness to tackle poor remuneration in the state’s civil service, stating that poor pay packages could be counterproductive to anti-corruption initiatives.

The Governor, who was quoted as making the assertions while addressing the newly sworn-in Commissioners in the state, reiterated his commitment towards finding a lasting solution to the issue of poor remuneration in the civil service.

Makinde stated that under his leadership, it would be business unusual as he would do everything possible to ensure that workers in the state were not exposed to the temptations of corruption.

The Governor said: “We do have challenges and I can give you an example of the kind of issues that we are faced with.

“When I was on the podium being sworn-in, I announced that I was donating my salary to the pension board.

“I actually thought my salary was going to be like N3 million or N4 million monthly, but when I came in here, I discovered that my salary is only N650,000 monthly, which is less than $2,000.

“How can somebody earning $24,000 a year preside over a $500 million budget?

“The temptation is just too high.

“When I was growing up, anytime I saw permanent secretaries and top civil servants, all around with their entourage, jeeps, Land Cruisers, I thought they were making it big because I was driving Peugeot or Toyota Camry.

“But when I came in here, the salary of Permanent Secretaries is under N500,000 per month; in such an environment where you have contractors coming with big temptations.

“The expectation is just too great and high.

“But the good news is: we will find a solution to this.

“It’s going to business unusual in Oyo State.”

Makinde charged all the new Commissioners in the state to key into his vision and manifesto of accelerated development of Oyo State, adding that the administration would conduct business in an unusual manner that would change the narrative about governance in the state.