We pay N500 million monthly as pension—Government

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO—Pensioners in Osun State yesterday in Osogbo paralysed commercial and other activities, protesting the non-payment of their outstanding monthly pension and other entitlements amounting to N25 billion.
As early as 8 am, they took to the streets of Osogbo and barricaded major roads leading to the town chanting anti-government songs.

Armed with placards with different inscriptions which read; “Aregbesola has killed us in the state,” “We are tired of this government which has brought hardship into many homes in the state” among others. The protesters frowned at the way  their demands were being handled by the government and vowed not to relent until their demands were met.

Speaking during the protest, chairman of the union, Mr. Adenekan Odunlade said: “We are not pleased with the way the present administration in the state has abandoned us and our demands and we will not take it lightly with them. What is happening now has never happened in the history of the state. Previous governments have never tampered with our monthly entitlements and pension as this government has done. Tampering with it is callous and wicked.

“More so, Aregbesola’s administration owes us N25 billion now without any attention being paid to it. Many of my members have given up the ghost because they found it difficult to buy drugs to heal their ailments because of government’s I don’t care attitude to offset their accumulated arrears.”

He said that they had met the Commissioner for Finance, Wale Bolorunduro on the matter severally but all to no avail.

The state government in its reaction said: “It should be noted that prior to this administration, about N142 million went into the payment of retirees from local government and primary schools. It was this administration that raised the bar and ensured that what is committed to their pension monthly is almost N500 million and this is outside the sums paid to secondary school retirees and state civil service workers.”

Speaking through the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the government explained that “Prior to the end of 2013, the State of Osun ensured payment of workers’ salaries on 25th of every month. This was part of the resolutions of the current government to ensure that workers are well motivated to ensure robust productivity.

“We need to remind our retirees that in the face of reduction of revenues by about 40 per cent of what are due to the states, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we navigate the storming waters for a stable state.”