16th November, 2016
The Osun State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) on Wednesday said that it would continue to disrupt activities of the state government until their gratuity and pensions were fully paid.
Mr. Ilesanmi Omoniyi, a former Chairman of NUP in the state, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after a rally to protest their plight in Osogbo.
Omoniyi alleged that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola intentionally excluded them from benefiting from the N34 billion bailout released to him by the Federal Government.
He said he was dismayed by the poor condition of members and which the state government had refused to attend to.
According to him, some of the pensioners cannot afford money to take care of themselves and this has led to the death of many.
Omoniyi called on the state government to come to their aid by paying their pensions and gratuities on a continuous basis.
Mr. Ojo Afolabi, a retiree who spoke to NAN, said the government had continued to promise retirees on payment of their gratuities and pensions, but all in vain.
Afolabi urged the state government not to neglect them, stressing that someday the current government officials would be in their shoes.
The rally started at the Ola-Iya Junction at about 7:00 a.m with protesters carrying placards with various inscriptions.
The pensioners also marched around the state government secretariat at Abere.