LOGPAN Urges Governor Abiodun on Prompt payment of their Pension while alive, demands Bureau of Local Government Pension autonomy
By Lola Adeyinka
The Chairman, Ogun state Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigera, (LOGPAN), Chief Sikiru Ayilara, JP, has urged the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun to pay their pension to them while they are still alive and also solicited for the autonomy of the Bureau of Local government Pensions.
Chief Sikiru Ayilara, made the statement during a Press briefing with Journalists on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at the Association’s Secretariat, behind Ita-Oshin Motor Park, Abeokuta.
He maintained that Governor Abiodun should restore the principal responsibility of Bureau of Local Government Pension by directing the Ministry of Finance to handoff from handling the payment of Gratuity.
He stated further that, it remains a fact that failure on the part of any government at all levels to take proper care of retirees will no doubt discouraged patriotism thus encouraged lp taking undue advantage of public fund.
“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” he said.
“How on earth will a Governor, a mortal chooses to ignored 14 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” Ayilara declared.
He added that, the nonchalant attitude of the governor to the Local government Pensioners might work against his re-election in 2023, because they are all eligible voters as well as their families.
“The truth is, in the last three years, Gov Abiodun has been giving flimsy excuses; insufficient funds to clear the ₦68bn” he said.
Chief Ayilara made mentioned of some states that have paid appreciable sums of pension to their pensioners, such as “Gov Zulum of Borno State, in spite of the incessant insurgencies in the state, was able to source for sufficient fund to pay ₦12bn outstanding Gratuity in one day”
“Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, received an Award recently through his Commissioner of Information being a friend of Pensioners for his sincerity of purpose towards payment of gratuity. Of recent, Makinde paid ₦8bn outstanding Gratuity in a day; a State with low IGR compared to Ogun State of Prince Dapọ Abiodun” he said.
He added that, Governor Oyetola of Osun state, paid over ₦40bn within the last three years, in addition to the lastest ₦708m to 300 retirees”
” While Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, makes sure Pensioners get deserved priority has paid ₦32.8bn Gratuity for 8,170 retirees in two years” Ayilara stressed.
He recalled that, former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel paid all outstanding gratuity in one day.
He stated further that, “Our (Local Govt Pensioners) demand is quite different from what State Pensioners (NUP) want, on our own, we are requesting the following:
“We are not only asking for the implementation of 33.4% increase in Pensions which could only peg the monthly minimum Pensions at N7,000; We want immediate harmonization of monthly pension from ₦5,000 to start from at least ₦30,000 or how would Mr Governor expects Pensioners who have worked for between ten and thirty-five years to continue receiving ₦5,000 as monthly pension in a State that pays ₦30,500 as minimum wage”
“We don’t want the payment of ₦1.5bn arrears of the quarterly ₦500m as requested by the NUP, all that we are asking for is the re-scheduling of outstanding Gratuity payment from ₦500m every three months to at least ₦2bn monthly, so that we can receive our Gratuity while alive” he said.
“Governor Abiodun’s non clearance of our gratuities is even a dishonour to all fathers and mothers, particularly his own father who appealed to him at the point of death to cater for the aged” Ayilara concluded.