Gov Ajimobi Approves N800m For Payment Of Pensioners

Gov-Ajimobi

The Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi has approved the sum of N800 million for the payment of primary schools and local government pensioners.

Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area, made this known yesterday as he urged the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) to show understanding and not confrontational.

Olatunbosun who was responding to the 14-day ultimatum served by NUP state chapter on the Ministry of Local Government to pay outstanding pension arrears.

According to him, the irregularity in the payment of pension arrears to the national pension scam and strain on the resources at government disposal.

“We understand the plight of retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners and we appeal to the pensioners not to be confrontational with the state government. We implore them to be on the same page with the state government. We cannot be insensitive to the plight of the pensioners.

“There was delay in allocation for two months because we could not hold JAAC meeting during the last strike. We had our last meeting on Friday where N880 million was released for primary schools and local government pensioners. They would get their monies before the end of work tomorrow.

“We must also understand that the state allocation has also dropped from about N5 billion now receives about N2.2 billion and we have a wage bill of N5.2 billion. We appeal to the pensioners to be understanding.

“The government is also trying to verify the number of retirees since 2008 and that verification has enabled the government to discover 400 ghost pensioners.

“The government is sensitive to the plight of pensioners and ensures that monthly it sends certain amount of money to the pension board. We are here today because of actions of certain people evident in the N6.8 billion scam.”