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(UPDATED): Osun Pensioners Protest Maltreatment By Aregbesola’s Government

Published

8 years ago

June 29, 2017

BODWEY

———–Pensioners’ Protest Politically Motivated-Information Commissioner

By Abdulrofiu Agboola and Olabode Abolaji

Pensioners under the Osun State Government on Thursday again took the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, to renew calls for the payment of their pension arrears and gratuities.

With different inscriptions and placards to press home their demands, the pensioners as early as 7am walked through Ayetoro to Igbona, Ajegunle, Orisumbare and the popular Olaiya Junction to ask for the unconditional payment of their arrears by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Tagged “Operation Occupy Osogbo”, the senior citizens accused the Governor and the state government of not showing concern over their plight, a development they say has led to the death of some of their colleagues.

According to those who spoke to CityMirrorNews, their protest today which is in continuation of several actions embarked on by the union to make government see to their plight is coming at a time when the state had failed to honour the agreement reached with them on paying their entitlements immediately it receives the second tranche of the Paris Club refund from the Federal Government.

They pledged to continue their agitation till the government settles them.

However, the Osun State government has described the protest as polticcally motivated.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state Mr Lani Baderinwa while reacting to the agitation of the Retirees said it is unfortunate to have the state’s elderly citizens in the street in protest.

Baderinwa expressed regret that the pensioners are using protest as the means to drive home their points.

Baderinwa stressed further that against the claim of the protesting pensioners that the Paris Club refund has been collected, “the state of Osun is yet to receive the newest tranche of the bail out fund”