Aggrieved pensioners in Osun State have called on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to drag his predecessor and incumbent Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for failing to pay their entitlements including gratuities, pensions and outstanding half salary arrears of over 15 months.
The protesting pensioners, in their hundreds, on Tuesday stormed the government secretariat in Osogbo and displayed placards with varying inscriptions amid anti-government songs to drive home their grievances.
The senior citizens, under the Contributory Pension Scheme, including retired primary and secondary school teachers, while addressing the state Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi, demanded the probe of how the bailout fund released to the Aregbesola-led administration was spent.
Their spokeswoman, Mrs Salami Bamidele, said there was a need for a probe since Oyetola claimed he inherited the unpaid entitlements.
“The person that incurred the debt on the state is from your party, since you know that there was mismanagement of government resources, you should have notified the EFCC to arrest him. I am very sure if he is from another party, he (Aregbesola) would have been arrested by now.”
Addressing the pensioners, the deputy governor appealed to them to exercise patience saying the government was working tirelessly to ensure they all got their pension.
“To sort out the issue of pensioners, your leadership picked November 29, 2021, to meet with the government.
“I am sure as the deputy governor of this state, the outcome of the meeting will serve your interest as we will add to money they use to release on monthly basis.
“Governor Oyetola will always fulfil his promise. Let us be patient till the end of the meeting,” he said.
