Osun Pensioners: Adeleke is not Oyetola

By Ismail Abdulganiyu

Few days ago, there were rumors by APC e-rodents that Osun pensioners would go on street protest against Governor Adeleke's administration. Findings later revealed that the rumors are coming to reality as the proactive team of Gov Adeleke discovered that the sorrowful APC was trying to use some sections of Contributory Pensioners to destabilize the state.

I can't forget in a hurry how Pensioners protested during Oyetola regime carrying placards with different inscription; “Pay our contributory pension fund”, “Release our bond to prevent the untimely death of members”, “Cashback our bonds promptly” etc. Among series of protests that happened during Oyetola-APC Government, I can remember that of July 1st 2020, September 30th, 2021, October 26th, 2021 and November 23, 2021 where thugs were sponsored to dispersed our fathers and mother's that have served the state meritoriously for expressing their fundamental rights.

However, since Governor Adeleke assumed office in November 2022, he has started offsetting the humongous debt arrears of pensioners and workers he inherited from APC past administrations. Governor Adeleke inherited 30 months half salaries of pensioners, unpaid gratuities since 2015 and unpaid monthly pensions since 2015. All these debts were rascally neglected by Oyetola's administration.

As part of his campaign promises to be friendly to pensioners, Governor Adeleke in his 10 months in office has paid 4 months arrears of salaries of workers and pensioners which had been unpaid since 2016.

Furthermore, since Gov Adeleke took over the leadership of the State from Satanic Oyetola; here is the breakdown of pensions and gratuities his administration has paid:

• At State level, the sum of 8.5 Billion has been released for pensions and gratuities of retirees from Ministries, MDA, Secondary and Tertiary institutions. Specifically, 3.6 billion was released for retirees pensions while a sum of 4.9 billion has been released for gratuities.

• At Local Government Level, so far, 8.57 billion has been released for Local Government and Primary Schools retirees for their Gratuities and Pensions.

It is important to remind ourselves that Oyetola-APC administration left over 100 Billion debt that Adeleke Government inherited and has been trying to offset this based on the available resources. From November 2022 that he assumed office, Gov Adeleke has paid over 17 billion for pensions and gratuities of Osun retirees.

To the naysayers that are claiming Adeleke has failed to look after pensioners; they should know that Adeleke is not Oyetola that jettisoned payment of pensions and gratuities of retirees he inherited from his predecessor; a Government under which he served as Chief of Staff. His Excellency, Governor Adeleke is God-fearing, righteous, open-minded and committed to welfarism of workers and pensioners.

Ismail Abdulganiyu is the Coordinator of Osun Light Media Team and from Irepodun LG, Osun State.