By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state and one of the arrow-heads of the “Otoge movement” Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo has tasked the government at all levels to ensure prompt payment of gratuities and pensions to retirees instead of focusing on infrastructure development, saying that it’s workers that are alive in good health that would enjoy infrastructure.

The legal practitioner cum politician said this in Ilorin, Kwara state capital as the guest speaker at an empowerment programme organized by Oluwafemi Oparinde Foundation.
The event was tagged ‘Support for senior citizens.’

According to him,”Government should address the plight of retirees in the state.

” Construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructural facilities should not be placed over and above payment of retirees entitlements.

” We are not saying the provision of infrastructure is not good, but it’s only the worker that is alive with health that can make use of those facilities.

“Retirees should not be left to struggle. They deserve timely gratuities and proper training to help them transition smoothly into post-service life.

“During your active year, you raised the bar of leadership and governance for the economic prosperity of the state.

“The programme that is on today started way back in 2020. It therefore shows the genuineness and sincerity of the founder.”

Akogun Oyedepo also posited that delayed payment of pensioners’ entitlements is injurious to society, adding that regular payment of pensioners’ gratuities and other benefits would lead to the establishment of small businesses in the state.

Oyedepo further noted that it’s dangerous to the nation’s economy when pensioners are not duly paid to enable them actively contribute positively to the economy.

He suggested that a year before the retirement of workers, the government should disengage them from service and train them on whatever they want to do after retirement, stressing that they must be paid for one year they are disengaged.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation and Head Program and Planning of Sobi FM station,a private Radio station in ilorin,Femi Oparinde said that the group was giving out cash gift to N50,000 to 1,000 retirees and free medical care to the beneficiaries.

Oparinde who seized the ocassion to marked his birthday emphasized the importance of honoring those who had dedicated their lives to public service.

“Retirement should not mean abandonment. These individuals have given their best years to the growth of our society, and we must ensure they are not left to suffer,” Oparinde stated.

Since its establishment in 2020, the foundation has expanded its humanitarian efforts beyond COVID-19 relief to include education, entrepreneurship, and support for vulnerable groups.

The latest outreach, Oparinde noted, reinforces the need for collective responsibility in caring for retirees.

Chairman of the state National Union of Pensioners (NUP), Alhaji Saidu Oladimeji hailed the intervention, urging the state government to enhance pension payments and introduce more social welfare programmes for senior citizens.