The Osun State Government refutes the existence of any entity named Osun Job Centre as part of its inheritance from the previous administration led by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The government further asserts that it has not held back the salaries of civil servants since assuming office on November 27, 2022.
Contrary to claims of shutting down the Osun Job Centre and withholding 12 months’ salaries of its personnel, the state government, through a statement signed by Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, on Monday, clarified that the individuals employed at the centre were on a contractual basis. Additionally, civil servants from the centre have been reassigned to various ministries within the state.
According to Alimi, “Our attention has been drawn to a false publication alleging that Governor Ademola Adeleke has shut down Osun Job Centre and withheld 12-month salaries of staff.
“There is no truth in this as Governor Adeleke did not inherit any purported Osun Job Centre from the immediate past administration and under this workers-friendly government, no salary of any civil servants had been withheld.
“Members of the public should be informed that the said Job Centre was created in 2016 but former Governor Oyetola on assumption of office in 2018 tactically shut it down and allocated the complex to Bosun Oyintiloye who used it for Civic Engagement.
“Records showed that throughout the period 2018 to 2022, the said centre was not funded and at a point, the rented apartment became the campaign office for the former Governor.
“Official records also showed that those engaged at the centre were contract staff who were engaged without compliance with public service regulations and who were mostly political activists.
“The few civil servants within the centre were also redeployed.
“The Oyetola administration used the Centre as an annexure of the Ministry of Information to placate Mr Oyintiloye, who by then was Special Adviser to Oyetola on Civic Engagement in the Ministry of Information and Civic Engagement.
“The place was a political campaign ground all through the tenure of the last administration.”
Alimi insisted that the Adeleke administration is focused on increasing economic opportunities for residents through support for small businesses, and assisting job seekers to become employers of labour.
He also maintained that the government was focused on creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
