Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State was Friday night given an award for service to humanity by the NGO Voice of African Women for Human Dignity.
The award was presented to him in Asokoro, Abuja.
Speaking with journalists after receiving the award, Aregbesola once again blamed the failure of his administration to pay workers’ salaries on the drop in federal allocations to the state.
The governor said he was pained by his government’s inability to pay salaries regularly.
“I have found it hard to pay the wage bills owing to the declining federal allocation to the state.
“Federal allocation to the state has reduced by 40 per cent since 2013, thereby making it difficult for my government to meet its responsibilities,” he said.
Aregbesola said the situation became so bad at a point that he resorted to the state’s reserves, which he said also ran out on the payment of salaries.
He said his administration had already accumulated N12 billion debt in its bid to ensure that salaries were paid regularly, adding that his government was committed to the people’s welfare.
The governor commended Voice of African Women for Human Dignity for the award and promised that it would inspire him to do more for the public.
“I got into politics so that I can render quality services to the suffering people of my state because majority of the people are hungry and angry,” he said.
During the presentation of the award, President of the NGO, Amina Idris, said the award was to appreciate the governor for his service to humanity.
“This award of excellence is in recognition of your immense contribution to humanity,” she said.
Ms. Idris said Aregbesola had been exceptionally helpful in the area of improving child education and promotion of human dignity through lofty programmes.
