Retirees protest against non-payment of pension

Govt calls for understanding
Pensioners in Osun State yesterday staged a peaceful protest against alleged non-payment of their 12 months entitlement.

The protest, which caused traffic gridlock, started from Ayetoro junction in Osogbo and terminated at the popular Olaiya junction.

The retirees called the demonstration “Operation Occupy Osogbo.”

They accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of being insensitive to their plights by refusing to pay them their entitlements and allowances.

According to them, the non-payment of the arrears had caused the death of many of their members.

Chanting anti-government songs, they alleged that workers who retired from the state civil service since 2008 till date had not been paid their gratuities.

They lamented that the state government had left them to suffer even after it had received bailout funds three times from the Federal Government.

But the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa urged the retirees to show understanding, adding that government was yet to collect the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund.

He stressed that the protest was politically motivated in view of the poor financial situation in the state.

The commissioner promised that the government would attend to their demand as soon as the financial situation improves.

The Chairman of the group, Omoniyi Ilesanmi, alleged that the governor diverted the money meant for the payment of pensions and gratuities.

Also, a former Head of Service in the state, Mr. Segun Akinwusi urged the retirees to use their votes to change a government that has made life unbearable for them.