Estimated reading time: 14 minute(s)
Sodiq Mojibola
Aged people who have served the state for 35 years and retired in Ogun state have spat fire, threatening that they would work against the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun at the polls.
This threat came same day the governor commenced his second term campaign held at Imeko Afon Local Government.area of the state
The pensioners said they wouid give
a benefitting “reward” for the governor over his attitude towards the plights of the senior citizens at the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Expressing their extreme anger, the pensioners under the aegis of Nigeria Union Pensioners (NUP), Ogun State chapter stated described the Abiodun – led administration as a government of deceit to the senior citizens, lamenting that his administration had made life “very unbearable” for them.
The Chairman of NUP, Waidi Oloyede said this while speaking in Abeokuta ,the state capital.
Oloyede said, it was regrettable that, the governor had turned deaf ears to the cries of the pensioners, lamenting that, the non payment of the outstanding N64.4billion gratuities had worsened the plights of the pensioners.
Oloyede said, “It should be noted that the general elections is lurching around the corner throughout the nation and as “One Good turn deserves another”, so in the same vain, “A bad turn deserves what it gets”.
“It is never too late to make amends. As elders, we shall not keep quiet till our demands are met.
“He (Abiodun) has no doubt on our support if he do what we are asking him to do.
“Once what we want from him is done, there is doubt about our support for him, but if not… But we expect that he (Abiodun) will pay before the election.”
Oloyede called on the governor to increase the N500 million quarterly gratuity payment to N2 billion to offset the N64.4 billion outstanding gratuities, saying this would go a long way in offsetting the backlog of unpaid gratuities.
He said : “It is unimaginable to state that a total sum of N3.6 billion has so far been paid as gratuities by the Ogun state government over three and half years ago; a sum which is not enough to defray gratuities of retirees from June 2019 to date being the tenure of the governor Dapo Abiodun administration.
“It is our candid belief that given the realities of the increase of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in our state as openly admitted by His Excellency in recent times, we strongly believe that a quarterly release of N2 billion will marginally go a long way to offset the backlog of unpaid gratuities.
“Pensioners are dying in droves on a daily basis for lack of good healthcare that require ample financial redemption and expected pensions for the 25th of each month as it used to be in the Ogun State of previous administrations
“This seems a government of deceit to the senior citizens since life is now very unbearable for the pensioners in Ogun State.
“No one deprives the elderly of their ‘walking sticks’ without its attendant repercussions. We are hereby calling on the Ogun State Government led by Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun to have a change of heart in the way the elderly that have toiled hard in their hay-days to keep the state on a sound footing are now being treated.
“There is sincere need for the government to regularly pay substantial amount to offset the backlog of gratuities. While the pensioners eagerly await required Consequential Increase in pensions to meet with the present economic situations of the nation as well as regular payment of Pensions by the 25th of each month as of previous administrations.”
Meanwhile, the State Governor, on Thursday, thrilled the crowd of supporters at the flag-off campaign at Imeko Afon Local Government.
The flag-off campaign had in attendance a former governor of the state, Olusegun Osoba, and some other party chieftains and stakeholders.
Abiodun empowered some party members and residence who played a draw and won gifts of equipments designed to support their businesses.
Addressing the crowd of supporters, Governor Abiodun promised that he would continue the reconstruction of the Abeokuta – Afon Road.
He said, “I will commence the reconstruction before the end of the election to boost the socio-economic development of this area.
“We reconstructed Oke-Ola road here Imeko -Afon within stipulated period. We have been doing our projects without making noise and we will not stop doing things that would be making our people happy.”
Abiodun canvassed votes for all APC candidates in the state, especially its presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He further promised that a School of Agriculture and Technical College would be established by his administration.
Abiodun, “We have constructed at least one road per local government since we came into power. The last time we witnessed such was during the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba.
“We will not relent in doing more for the people of the state. I urged you to go and collect your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVCs) to enable you participate in tbe elections.
“The deadline for collection is January 15th. Please encourage one and other to participate actively in the electoral process for continuity.”
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
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