By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
There was pandemonium at the Osun State Secretariat, Abere-Ede, on Tuesday, as pensioners in the State paralysed the activities of the government, shutting down the state government secretariat completely to protest non-payment of their entitlements by Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The protesters included retired primary and secondary school teachers being owed by previous administration of former Governor Governor Rauf Aregbesola under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The aggrieved pensioners in their large numbers stormed the Osun State Government’s Secretariat, holding placards that had the inscriptions of their agitations.
Some of the placards which addressed the state Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, read, “Gov. Oyetola, stop these lying and fake promises. Pay us our money,” “we are dying of hunger”, “Masses, help us; we are dying”, and “Dead people cannot enjoy infrastructure”, among others.
Our Correspondent, who monitored the protests gathered that the aged pensioners accused governor Oyetola of receiving billions of naira, yet, he defaulted in payment of pensions of retirees.
One of the protesters, Adebayo Micheal, said Governor Oyetola had refused to give them their gratitude/pensions and 29 months half salary arrears since 2016 till date, including the contributory pension.
He further explained that though the state government had gone on air announcing the release of millions of naira to pensioners, he said that to their amazement the claims by the state government was very far from the truth.
He hinted that they would continue to protest until their plights were considered.
He said: “We would continue to protest until the state government responds to our demand. We worked and contributed so we can have our contributory Pension to be useful for us.
“Nobody or party is bankrolling us against the government; we are concerned about our money. Hunger forced us to the street to embark on protest.
“We have people in Ibadan, Lagos and many places who can help us but they always hear the news that state government has released money for us, and because of that they hold back; meanwhile the money is not going round.
“The Head of Service announcement that government is releasing money for us is false. We are coming here on 29.”
Echoing a similar view, another protester, Mrs Salami Bamidele said: “From the way you talk, I can see that you don’t have regard for us. If you truly prioritize us and know that we are hungry since last year December that we have been protesting it should have improved.
“You are claiming that you have paid our money but it is a lie. You are releasing 708 million monthly what get to we that are under contributory pensioner is very small, it is very small compare to our population while some have not been receiving anything under this scheme. We met the governor in July 2021 because the money is not enough and he promised us that he will improve on it.
“We did not see any difference as Government continue to give us 150 million in March and April which is not even every month.
“2016 retirees who have not collected anything are about 600. The recent money that they release recently only 76 of us benefitted. We are dying, battling with sickness.
“You claimed that the present administration is battling with backlog, it is so unfortunate, government is continuity, anybody that get to the seat of government will inherit both asset and liability, that an administration left debt for us shouldn’t be part of what you are saying because you are of the same party.
“The person that incurred the debt on the state is from your party, since you know that there was mismanagement of government resources, you should have notified EFCC to arrest him… I am very sure if he is from another party he would have been arrested by now. Your party is not telling you not to arrest him at the detriment of we the retirees. All those who are punishing us shall taste suffering.”
Addressing the Pensioners, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi appealed to the protesting pensioners to exercise patience, saying the Government was working tirelessly to ensure they all got their Pension.
Alabi said: “We are ensuring that we are paying full salary promptly. The truth will always be true and false will be false. This money in question, we cannot pay at once.
“You are very important to us and we are handling your matter as a priority. We don’t like the way you are under the scorching sun, it is not good enough for you and us.
“To sort out the issue of pensioners, your leadership picked November 29, 2021, to meet with the government.
“I am sure as the deputy governor of this state the outcome of the meeting will serve your interest as we will add to money they use to release on monthly basis. Governor Oyetola will always fulfil his promise. Let us be patient till the end of the meeting.”
Meanwhile, the state government had in a statement issued by the Head of Service, Dr Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade, announced the release of the sum of Seven Hundred and Eight Million Naira (N708,000,000.00) to pay pensions of retirees in the State.
Oyabade who disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, November 22, 2021, restated the Governor Oyetola-led administration’s commitment to the people’s welfare, saying effort had been mustered to give workers the pride of place they deserved.
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