Rita Enemuru, Reporting
While pensioners in Delta State are groaning over unpaid arrears of retired Workers’ pensions and gratuities, the Governor of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has released N1.1 billion as part of his commitment to improve the welfare of retired civil servants and workers of the state.
Stonix News reports that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State just recently approved the construction of an International Conference Centre in Asaba at the whopping cost of N5.1 billion with 35 per cent already paid as mobilisation fee.
The state is said to be owing pensions and gratuities to the tune of N75 billion while many of the pensioners have either died in penury, bedridden or are engaged in riding tricycle to eke a living.
The release of N1.1 billion by Oyetola was contained in a press statement signed by the Head of Service, Dr Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade and made available to Stonix News on Monday, May 30.
According to the release, the selected retirees are to collect their bonds on Thursday, 2nd June, 2022 at the Local Government Service Commission Multipurpose Hall.
Oyebade stated that out of the 1.1 billion, N600 million was released for the settlement of retired Primary School teachers and Local Government workers.
He added that an additional N500 million was approved for the payment of contributory pensions of retired officers of the civil service and parastatals.
It was also diclosed that the list of beneficiaries of the approved sum has been pasted on the notice board of the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, the State’s Pension Bureau and the Office of the Head of Service.
Oyebade assured all workers both serving and retired of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s commitment to always make their welfare the first priority in the state.