Retirees protest non-payment of N1.3bn pension in Osun

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola

Hundreds of retired civil servants in Osun State stormed major streets in Osogbo on Monday to protest the non-payment of their gratuities and pension by the state government.

The protesters, who retired from the state’s civil service in 2011/2012, and carrying placards with various inscriptions to deride the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, described the non-payment of their entitlements as an act of wickedness.

The retirees marched through the major streets of the state capital and assembled at the Olaiya Junction, where the state Chairman,  Forum of Retired Public Servants, Mr. Tunde Ogunniyi, addressed them.

Ogunniyi said that many retired workers had died prematurely because they could not afford to pay medical bills due  to the non-payment of their entitlements.

According to  him, those who are not dead are suffering from various diseases due to financial stress.

Ogunniyi said the protesters were demanding that they should be included  in the payroll for pension and that the government must pay their gratuities. He also stated that they should be paid their pension arrears and be programmed  to begin to enjoy the new minimum wage,  which they were qualified for before the  new pension scheme was introduced.

The  Commissioner for Finance,  Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, in a statement  said,  “While the government believes that the group of retirees have freedom to express their concerns, it is regrettable that the previous Head of Service that approved the forceful resignation of the group of retirees did not consider the cash flow implication when granting the approval of the forceful resignation, thus preventing the government from making adequate provision for the associated obligation.

“This spontaneously led to an increase in the government monthly pension payment from N250m met at the inception of our administration to N600m.”