Pensioners in Osun state on Tuesday protested payment of 15 months arrears of pension and other outstanding debts owed by the state government.
They carried placards of various inscriptions such as, “EFCC Should Probe Aregbesola, “Retirees are Dying”, Pay Us Our Entitlements”, Denying Us Our Entitlements is an Act of Wickedness and Callousness”, Pension, Gratuity is Our Right, among others.
The Chairman of the forum 2011/2012, Mr Yemi Lawal, who addressed newsmen, lamented that the state Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, has neglected the retired workers.
He said it is unfortunate that they were suffering for what they have laboured for after meritoriously serving the state for many years.
He called on the Governor to use a sum of N6.3 billion Paris club fund he received recently from the federal government to offset their arrears.
Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Adeniyi Adesina, described the action of the protesters as “shocking”, saying their allegations were falsehood.
“That is absolute falsehood. It is shocking that elderly people of that ages could go to town base on falsehood, and failed to get their facts right before started making wild allegations that are unfounded.
“To set the record straight, the state has not been given any Paris refund, such funds would be publicly announced if given to any state. That is why I said it is shocking, even to the governor, that people who are elders could go to town base on false claim.
“Before the governor came into office, he promised that he would be transparent; he said that he would run a transparent government, and he has not reneged that promise”, Adesina said.
