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There appears to be division among pensioners in Osun State over issues relating to the payment of gratuities and pensions by the state government as groups are pointing fingers of being puppets to the government.
While the group of Forum of Pensioners of 2011/2012 Retirees accuse the state government of insensitivity to the plight of the pensioners, the other group referred to as the Osun Triangular Pensioners (OTP) said the state government has been up to task on issues of pensioners welfare in the state.
The OTP, who spoke to journalists on Monday in Osogbo the Osun State capital, said they are rising up to declare their support for the present administration in the state.
They called on those calling for the payment of pensions and gratuities among pensioners in the state as “disgruntled elements being used by oppositions to destabilise the state”.
Chairman of OTP, Prince Rotimi Adelugba, denied that the group is not a puppet of the state government stressing that they are only being considerate with government over the current economic situation in the country.
“These people are not for the government, they are anti-government, whatever the governor does, they have refused to see any good thing about it”
“They are being sponsored by opposition and it is very very bad, in Osun State now, there is an MOU signed by Labour and workers, the Governor has not changed the agreement. We pensioners even collected our May pensions before the workers started collecting their own salary.
“Aregbesola has been paying, I am one of the retirees of 2011/2012, those pensioners complaining are being sponsored by the opposition, though I agree we have not been paid, but many states too are owing their pensioners up to 5 years gratuity. I am sure we are going to be given our gratuity very soon, as soon as the government has money”
On payment of half pension, Prince Adelugba said “all pensioners earning twenty thousand downward are being paid full, while those earning from twenty and above are paid half, just as it is done for workers as well. So why should we complain, we understand the plight of government and this is what we signed in the MOU.
“As the Triangular Pensioners, we are working for the welfare of other pensioners, you cannot be going against the government, carrying placard everyday and expect the government to attend to you. Why do you need to write petition against the government ”
The splinter group, forum of 2011/2012 retirees had earlier accused the OTP of being puppets in the hand of the state government.
They also claim the government is owing the pensioners gratuities and eight and half months pension arrears.
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