Pensioners protest in Osun, allege plans to divert Paris Refund

Scores of pensioners under the aegis of Forum of 2011/12 Retired Public Servants of Osun protested at the entrance to the state government secretariat over non-payment of their entitlements.

The factional chairman of pensioners in the state on Wednesday, Mr Omoniyi Ilesanmi, who addressed newsmen at the sideline of the protest, said they were out to ensure the government does not divert the released Paris Refund for other use.

This is as another group of the pensioners expressed support for the Osun State’s government.

The government through a statement by its head of bureau, Semiu Okanlawon, accused the protesting workers of spreading false information.

It would be recalled that the government earlier confirmed the payment of over N6bn second tranche of Paris Refund to the state.

The protesting pensioners who barricaded the main entrance of the Osun State Secretariat Abeere,Osogbo , chantef anti-oppression on songs and causing traffic snarl despite the presence of security operatives who were on ground to maintained law and orders.

For four consecutive times this year alone, the pensioners had described the governor’s insensitivity as deliberate refusal of the government to pay their twelve months arrears and Gratuities.

They also alleged that no worker that retired from the state civil service since 2008 till date has been paid gratuity.

Addressing the Protesters, the Chairman forum of 2011/2012 retirees, Comrade Ilesanmi Omoniyi, warned the governor not divert the money meant for the payment of pension and gratuity.

“He said according to the Nigeria constitution section 210 which says anybody in the Public Services of both Local,State and Federal is entitled to his or her benefit of gratuities and pensions.”

“We have lost over 2000 of our members since 2013 up till date,on Monday we still lost one of our member at Ede and he was buried yesterday and we also have 800 of our bedridden having no money to buy drug and some are married to their wheel till Gods Knows when.”

Meanwhile, the factional group of pensioners under the aegis of Triangular Group of Pensioners in Osun Wednesday stated that the group has been vindicated with the recent release of the second tranche of Paris Club loans refunds to states of the federation.
Chairman, Triangular Group of Osun Pensioners, Prince Rotimi Adelugba.

In a statement, the group commended Osun state government for promptly informing the public on the receipt of the second tranche of the Paris club debt refund to the state.
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He held that its earlier stance that the protest by some few pensioners in the state on the payment of pension arrears with the Paris club refund was another political stunt meant to portray the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as bad in the estimation of the public as the state approached the Osun West Senatorial District Election on July 8 had been justified with the latest development.‎

The group stated that the best way to push pensioners demand was by dialogue and not through fabricated lies and protests which they assert are being sponsored by the opposition.
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Adelugba stressed that group’s defence of the State Government on the receipt of Paris Club Fund as at then, was based on the information at the group’s disposal.
He stated that the Paris club refund, as at then, had not yet being received by the state government.

He said, “We have stated earlier before now that it is inhuman,disheartening and uncivilised to note that despite all efforts put in place and the assurance capable of giving hope to retirees, they embarked on character assassination and lies.

“Is it not now clear to the whole world that the claims by the Omoniyi Ilesanmi led pensioners that the second tranche of the Paris fund have been diverted as at then was untrue, misleading and uncalled for when the fund has not been released.‎
“We wondered where Mr. Ilesanmi and his people got their own information from if it was not that they were motivated by opposition, not minding the consequences as it is now when it became so clear that there was nothing like the release of the second tranche two months ago as claimed by them.
“The Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola had said it severally that the salary and pension arrears would be paid as soon as fund is available.
“Government just demonstrated it’s sincerity to the welfare of people when it announced that it has gotten the second tranche of the refund and we commenrd Aregbesola for this sincerity.”

The state government, however, asked the protesting group of the pensioners to apologise to Osun people for allegedly misinforming them over Paris Club Refunds.

The statement read, “The attention of the Government of Osun has been drawn to another in the series of protests by a group of pensioners who have filed out again today Wednesday July 19, 2017 for reasons best known to them.

“It is interesting to note that about a month ago, this same set of pensioners accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of collecting and diverting the second tranche of Paris loan refund, which they claimed had been released to Osun State by the federal government.

“As they have come out today, they have a duty to actually apologise not only to Aregbesola’s government, but also to the good people of Osun State for misinforming, confusing and creating tension in the state through their false claim that the governor had received the second tranche of Paris loan refund about a month ago.”

It explained that announcing the receipt of the fund showed transparency and accountability.

“Like we have said, Osun State government, with it’s commitment to transparency under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola made the announcement yesterday (Tuesday) to confirm the receipt of N6.314billion as the second tranche of Paris loan refund from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“The money was paid into the account of the state government on Monday and we duly made the announcement yesterday, informing the public that Osun has got the second tranche of Paris loan refund.

“In line with our government’s promise to utilise the resources of this state in the best interest of our people, we hereby restate our commitment to this promise as we begin shortly transparent deployment on our commitments to the concerned stakeholders,” the statement read.