By Jamiu Ganiyu
In his commitment to the welfare of the retirees in the state, Governor Gboyega Oyetola has issued over one billion naira retirement bond certificates to not less than one hundred and eighty nine pensioners in the state.
The official presentation of the bond certificates to the retirees held at the Local Government Service Commission Hall in the state secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, the state capital, had in attendance senior government officials and scores of the beneficiaries.
In his speech, Governor Gboyega Oyetola congratulated the retirees for God’s protection over them to be alive to receive their entitlement while being alive, despite paucity of funds that hindered the government being done on time.
In his words, he said, ‘I am happy with this programme as it reflects that the government loves pensioners in the state, and that the government is not heartless towards the plight of the people’
‘If someone works as a public civil servant of the government, it is his/her right to collect it’s gratuity and enjoy life with it’.
‘Paucity of funds that affected the federal and state governments hindered activities from being performed, and I urge everyone to imbibe patience which will be crowned with payments soon’.
He, however, used the opportunity to debunk the rumor being peddled around sometime ago that Paris fund was collected as at the time being rumored, he described the intervention as something that cannot be done or accepted in hiding.
According to him, ”Paris fund when paid by the Federal government will be listed and advertised with amount paid to states, and when it’s paid, civil servants working in that departments will be aware of it, so the rumor that it’s been collected and diverted it baseless’.
‘All allocation paid to the state is open for the awareness of the Accountant General of the State’
‘The government cannot be heartless against retired civil servants who used twenty five years in service, and they should be commended for their service, and should enjoy after retirement’.
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola informed the gathering that One billion, and thirteen million, four hundred and forty nine thousand, seven hundred and ninety six naira and forty three Kobo (1,013,449,796.43) was paid to One hundred and Eighty Nine pensioners in the State.
Speaking specific on the presentation, Oyetola said, ‘One billion, and thirteen million, four hundred and forty nine thousand, seven hundred and ninety six naira and forty three Kobo (1,013,449,796.43) was paid for the contributory pension, and my government did not divert the fund because it believes in the welfare of its citizens, hence the action to pay the selected pensioners who total one hundred and eighty five numbers in all, with one hundred and five pensioners being from local governments and eighty four pensioners were teachers’.
‘I want to advise pensioners in the state to be patient with the government, as we will from time to time make necessary payment, as well as reveal situation of things, but if it’s not available, don’t insist on its availability’.
‘We are privilege to receive and release this contributory pension to you all without being coarsed to do so, because we are not heartless or in denial of your welfare, so when we say this is how things are, believe us. We are not heartless, we have your kind as family, uncles, aunties, etc’.
I urge you all to talk to your other pensioners to be patient with the government, you were not there when we got payment, but we called you to cine and receive your entitlements, this is the virtue of a virtuous person’.
From time to time we will share that of stare government Civil servants, and apart from the contributory pension all entitlements will be paid with patience and as God willed’
‘I also promised Civil Servants in the State that all monies owed by the government will be duly paid by God’s Grace’.
‘The assurance you want is what God approved, it’s one billion and more that was released and I pray you won’t spend the money on sickness, but good health and long life with blessings’ he stated.
Earlier in his welcome address the Osun head of Service, Mr Festus Oyebade congratulated the selected pensioners who formed the eight batch to collect their retirement bond certificates. He equally thanked Governor Gboyega Oyetola for his genuine compassion about the retirees in the state.
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