Osun - State Pensioners Protest Over Non Payment Of Their Entitlements

Pensioners in Osun State on Wednesday staged a protest over the non-payment of their entitlements.

During the protest in the state capital "Osogbo", the protesters called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its searchlight on the financial activities of the outgoing Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The Leader of the Forum of 2011/2012 Retired Public Servants of Osun State, Yemi Lawal, claimed that the state government is not spending funds appropriately.

“Aregbesola is still owing us 15 months of pension arrears and December 2008 to 2012 gratuity. He has not paid our entitlements.

“Then the contributory pensioners who had contributed while in service ought to collect the bulk of their money six months after retirement. About four years back, Aregbesola did not remit the money contributed while in service and that is why the pension administration did not pay them,” he said.

According to him, the intervention funds disbursed by the Federal Government to help state governments ease the payment of salaries and pensions owed was not well utilized in Osun.

Lawal also lamented that the governor is owing retirees, as well as workers 17 months pensions and salaries.

The pensioners then urged the Federal Government to prevail on Governor Aregbesola to look into the plight of the pensioners and pay up their entitlements.

The state commissioner for Information and strategy, Adelani Baderinwa, when contacted, however, declined to speak on the allegations raised by the pensioners.