The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Related Commission (ICPC) has investigated the claim that the Osun State government is owing Local Government retirees.
Some aggrieved persons had petitioned the commission, alleging that the administration of Governor Gbpyega Oyetola has refused to pay retired Local Government workers.
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But in a letter dated April 22, 2021, and signed by Director of Operations, Akeem Lawal, fsi, on behalf of the Chairman of the ICPC, the commission gave Oyetola’s administration a clean bill of health.
The letter reads in parts: “This Commission recently concluded its investigation regarding the above mentioned matter and I have, therefore, been directed to inform Your Excellency as follows: Investigation revealed that modulated pensions covering January –December 2016, January-November 2017 and January to June 2018 were paid to local government retirees.
“Additionally, full pension payments have been effected for the retirees for December 2017 and the 2018, 2019 and 2020 financial years.”
In his response, Ismail Omipidan, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said since 2018 when they came into office, over N30 billion has been used to clear pensions and gratuities.
Omipidan said his Principal has been very transparent in the handling of not only pension matters, but the entire governance of the State.
“We have been very consistent in our public engagements with the citizens of the State as far as the issues of pensions for both retirees of the Local Government and that of the State are concerned. We have been paying regularly since we assumed office in 2018, just as we have been making efforts to clear the backlog we inherited. And we will stop at nothing to ensure we clear all the outstanding arrears as the finances of the state improve.
“My boss is one man that has so far demonstrated that one could be a politician in Nigeria and still have the fear of God in the discharge of his or her responsibilities.
“Are you not amazed that three years counting, he has kept his promise of regular payment of workers’ salaries as and when due and still building infrastructure, while also catering to the welfare and security of the citizens in the face of paucity of funds.”
