Accord Party Blasts Oyetola Over Retirees’ Plight, Says He Deserves No Second Term

The Accord Party in Osun State on Thursday declared that Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the ruling All Progressive Congress deserves no second term in office.

The party stated the cries of the state retirees over non payment of their entitlements was worrisome.

Accord party expressed displeasure over the governor’s alleged disdain for contributory pension scheme law.

This was contained in a press statement issued in support of the protesting pensioners and signed by the party’s state Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande.
Read Also:Osun Pensioners Lament Unpaid Entitlements, Say We’re Now Beggars
According to the release sent to journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, the Accord Party identified with the pensioners, noting that sections 5(b) and 7, pages 18 and 19, of the current Osun State Contributory Pension Law of 2008 stipulate that the state government shall ensure that persons leaving or retiring from the state’s public service receive their terminal benefits as and when due.

The Party decried insufficient and infrequent remittances of pensions and gratuities in the state, noting that the APC’s disdain for contributory pension scheme law and failure of the governor to live up to the biddings of his exalted office have denied the contributing pensioners of the benefits and anticipated recompenses.

Read also: Pensioners Threaten To Sue Gov Oyetola Over Non-Payment Of 6 Years Retirement Arrears

The party said it was deeply touched and concerned about the plights of the masses and reminded the governor and the APC that the goal of saving for retirement was to prevent stress, misery, disappointments, and premature death after retirement.

The statement reads in part: “the agitations for well-deserved retirement benefits by contributory pensioners in Osun State, comprising Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Tertiary Institutions, Civil and Local Government in the State who are yet to be paid their entitlements by the Government are in order and cannot continue to be handled with levity at this critical moment of economic letdown.

“It is heartbreaking to know that for more than Six (6) years, majority of the state retirees have not received a dime. This ungodly treatment of the people who had served the state and fatherland diligently for thirty-five (35) years or 60/65 years is unfair, inhumane and disappointing.

“Specifically, up till this moment, Tertiary Institutions contributory pension retirees from Osun State University LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osun State College of Education in Ilesa and Osun State college of Technology, Esa-Oke have not benefited or received any bond from the state government.

“Whereas, the estimated total amount of the half salary arrears owed by the state government to the contributory pensioners is in excess of seven billion naira, we also have it on good record that just two months have been paid to insignificant percentage of the affected retirees.

“This, for a party that rose to power on mantra of change and promised to improve the standard of living of the people, is at variance with the tenets of purposeful leadership. Therefore, we join other lovers of good governance and discerning minds in the state to condemn this in strongest terms and identify with the senior citizens.”