By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, has called on the Osun State Government to immediately commence the payment of outstanding pension and pension arrears of retirees in the state, lamenting that some of the state pensioners have not been paid a kobo  in the last six months.

CDWR in a statement by its Osun State Secretary, Kola Ibrahim, claimed many of these pensioners were forced to retire through a dubious policy introduced in 2009 by the  government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, but implemented by the current government since 2010.

The statement read “This is calling on the government of Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State to immediately commence the payment of outstanding pension and pension arrears of retirees in the state. Currently, some sections of the retirees have been processed without being paid a dime, while several others such as retirees from primary schools have not even been processed at all, thus putting their fate in the balance.

Many of these retirees who have retired for more than six months now are struggling to survive, especially as the harsh economic situations have continued to bite harder. If government is campaigning for virtuous behaviour among its workforce, it should ensure that their lives after service are not made miserable through willful neglect by political officers.”

“Many of these pensioners were forced to retire through a dubious policy introduced in 2009 by the  government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, but implemented by the current government since 2010.

This policy compelled all workers who have put in  close to 30 years in service to compulsorily retire if they are to be enrolled in the government’s pension scheme; otherwise they are condemned to the

contributory pension scheme that deduct from workers’ salaries but only ensure meager pensions that are fractions of what government will pay. Worse still, based on the instability of the

financial and business markets coupled with the profit-driven agenda of private pension mortgage and banking organizations, the pensions from contributory system can be manipulated.

Continuing, the group allged that “ many workers were forced to retire in order to get a government secured pension. Unfortunately, more than six months after, pensions are still unpaid. This is simply unfair, especially when viewed against the background of the enormous amount committed to salaries, allowances and other official perks of political officers.

The governor, during the last May Day said the government had commenced the payment of pensions; it seems this assertion is a mere political statement. It is only virtuous for the governor to translate his statement to reality by paying the retirees promptly. Many of them still have dependants, including children who are still schooling.”

“Labour unions, not only in Osun State, but across the country should take proactive measures to fight for these retirees. They are part of the working class, which labour movement is morally and historically

bound to defend. Pension union should also stop playing the ostrich by using the excuse that these retirees have not been integrated into the payroll as alibi for not defending them. This is simply shallow. Interestingly, labour leaders are members of a pension committee setup by the government some months ago, yet, many retirees are still suffering. Workers have an inalienable right to living pension without any deduction from their salaries.”