ABEOKUTA— The Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN) in Ogun state has vowed to work against the reelection of the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun over his inability to pay it’s members their emoluments.
The pensioners described the constant disregard and dishonor of the retirees in the state as sickening and a crime against humanity, adding that it will mobilised it’s members and family to vote out the ruling party, All progressive Congress (APC).
Speaking with newsmen, the chairman of the association, Chief Sikiru Ayilara (JP) said the association wrote to the governor fourteen times with no response, which was a sign of disrespect and dishonor for the status of senior citizens by a sitting governor.a
“Facing the reality at eleventh hour of our lives, that Gov Dapo Abiodun in whom we nurtured brighter hope of receiving the fruitage of our hard labour, has resolved to treat us as ‘used and dumped’ is nothing but a distressing reality.
“How on earth will a Governor – a mortal – chooses to ignore fourteen letters from the Senior Citizens (the aged) who as a result of the neglect die as chickens after 35 years of patriotic service to the State. What a disrespectful Governor to humanity, most especially, the aged!
“It appears we will have no other options than to persuade our children to work against his re-election in 2023”, he added
He however berated Abiodun, saying that the Governor of Borno State, Zulum in spite of the incessant insurgencies in the state, was able to source for sufficient fund to pay ₦12bn outstanding Gratuity in a day.
He added that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was reported to have received an Award recently through his Commissioner of Information being a friend of Pensioners for his sincerity of purpose towards payment of gratuity. According to the report,Governor Makinde paid ₦8bn outstanding Gratuity in a day, a State with low IGR compared to Ogun State.
“The Osun state governor, Gboyega Oyetola has paid over ₦40bn within the last three years, in addition to the latest ₦708m to 300 retirees.
“Similarly, Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who had assured that Pensioners get deserved priority and has paid ₦32.8bn Gratuity for 8,170 retirees in two years.
“We can recalled that former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel paid all outstanding gratuity in a single day”, stressed
The Pensioners demands Includes, the implementation of 33.4% increase in Pensions, harmonization of monthly pension from ₦5,000 to start from at least ₦30,000 and arrears of the quarterly ₦500m as requested by the NUP.
Other demands Includes,the re-scheduling of outstanding Gratuity payment from ₦500m every three months to at least ₦2bn monthly, restoration of the principal responsibility of Bureau of Local Govt Pension by directing the Ministry of Finance to handoff from doing the payment of Gratuity.”
