Osun Retirees Call For Payment Of Entitlements, Warn Against Return Of Aregbesola Through ADC

By Adewale sukurat,Osogbo

The 2011/2012 Retired Public Servants’ Association of Osun State, in collaboration with members of the Unbonded Contributory Pension Scheme, on Thursday called on stakeholders in the state to prevent the political return of former governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, through his alleged agents and associates in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The call was made during a joint press conference held in Osogbo, where the retirees expressed concerns that a return of Aregbesola or his political loyalists could further damage the state’s economy and worsen the welfare of workers and pension

While addressing the journalists, shortly after a brief peaceful demonstration in Osogbo, Osun State capital, the association’s leadership lamented that their members estimated to be over 32,000 retirees have endured more than 13 years of hardship, unpaid gratuities, and irregular pension payments despite having served the state meritoriously.

The retirees accused the Aregbesola-led administration of introducing policies they described as “anti-people and anti-worker,” which allegedly resulted in half salaries and pensions being paid for about 32 months, causing severe financial and emotional distress among workers and retirees.

They further alleged that several intervention funds released to Osun State during the period, including a ₦34.98 billion bailout loan, ₦14.4 billion budget support fund, ₦13.6 billion relief fund, and over ₦20.8 billion Paris Club refund, were either misappropriated or unaccounted for. According to the group, these funds were meant to clear salary backlogs, pensions, and gratuities but failed to achieve their intended purpose.

Retirees also accused the former administration of illegally withdrawing over ₦70 billion in pension contributions meant for contributory pension scheme beneficiaries, an action they said plunged many retirees into poverty, ill health, and untimely death.

In the education sector, the retirees criticized the introduction of the Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) initiative, describing it as a failed project that did not deliver tangible benefits to students. They also condemned the reclassification of schools into elementary, middle, and high schools, which they claimed led to confusion and mass failure in national examinations.

While commending the current administration of Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke for initiating quarterly payment of half pensions, the association appealed for a review of the arrangement to allow monthly payment of pension arrears. They also urged the state government to urgently address the long-standing issue of unpaid gratuities, noting that piecemeal payments over the years have brought little relief.

The group concluded by calling on the Osun State Government, traditional institutions, labour unions, civil society organisations, and the general public to prioritize the welfare of retirees and safeguard the state from policies that could reverse recent progress.