The Minister of Communications, Barr Adebayo Shittu , has responded to the allegation of non-payment of 23 months’ salary arrears and other entitlements which is over N10m alleged by his aide Hon, Rasaq Olubodun.
The Minister who made the clarification through his Media Adviser, Tajudeen Kareem told CEOAFRICA that the allegations were false.
Responding to the allegations, Tajudeen Kareem, Media Adviser to the Minister of Communications, stated that, ''Mr.Razaq Olubodun was appointed Personal Assistant to the Minister by a letter dated 23 November, 2015''.
Paragraph 3 of the letter signed by the Minister, reads: “Your monthly emolument will be decided in line with the existing practice." The extant rule on the salary of PA to the Minister is contained in the Minister';s letter of appointment issued by the Secretary to the Federal Government.
In this wise, the letter issued by the SGFs office in November, 2015 reads in part: item j, "Personal Assistant Allowance- 25% of Annual Basic Salary to enable you to employ a Personal Assistant of your choice."
The Salary of a PA to the Minister is calculated as follows: Minister';s annual basic salary is N2,026,400. 25% is N506,600, being annual salary of the PA.
The monthly salary of a Minister';s PA is N42,216,66. Multiply by 23 months=N970,983.33
''Olubodun';s legal entitlement before resignation at the end of October, 2017 is N970,983.33. Records at the Minister';s office, shows that he was paid a cumulative sum of N1.5 million as salary,'' Kareem said.
CEOAFRICA gathered that Hon Rasaq Olubodun, Personal Assistant to the Minister of communication Barrister Adebayo Shittu resigned over allegation of unpaid salaries.
The Saki born politician was said to have written the minister through his lawyer demanding 23months’ salary arrears and other entitlement which is over N10m.
The source said Hon Olubodun salary was said to have been paid alongside with that of the minister which was stipulated in minister‘s appointment letter when he was appointed in November 2015
‘The intervention of some elders from Saki did not yield any positive result as a meeting convened at the Minister’s house in Aerodrome Estate to reconcile both ended in shouting match between him and the Minister ‘.
‘Olubodun claimed that working with the minister which should be a thing of pride was otherwise as he and his family have been living on borrowing spree and begging for money from friends and family to survive’. An impeccable source told our reporter.