Gov. Abiodun Is Paying Us N5000 'Dog Feeding Allowance' As Pension In Ogun, Retirees Raise Alarm

The Retirees addressing journalists on Tuesday at their secretariat in Abeokuta. 

Adenike Sanusi 

ABEOKUTA - Pensioners in Ogun state have described the N5000 monthly pension payment by the state government as disheartening and an amount not enough to feed dogs of an elite in one day. 

The retirees, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of  Pensioners, Ogun state chapter called for upward review of their N5000 monthly pension.

Addressing journalists at the union's secretariat in Abeokuta on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Union, Comrade Waheed Olayiwola Oloyede lamented that having served the state diligently for 35years, the state government has failed to implement the provisions of the circular on 33.4% increase in pension issued in 2010.

Comrade Oloyede equally called on the state House of Assembly to immediately reverse the obnoxious House Bill No. 54 of 2020 which prevent those who retired from July 2014 till date from benefiting from gratuity and pension scheme. 

He said the provision was repealed in 2014 but was snuggled back and backdated by the 9th Assembly members, which according to him, was devoid of best legislative practices of public hearing in a democratic setting. 

"It is unfortunate that the bill was hurriedly passed by the House of Assembly under 24 hours in a suspicious manner devoid of the best legislative practices of public hearing in a democratic setting anywhere in the world. 

"It is very disheartening that majority of pensioners are on N5,000 monthly pension in Ogun state, an amount which is not enough to feed the dogs of an elite in one day. This is the reason we have been calling for pension review and increment in the state.

The pensioners on protest

"We demand for immediate payment of Gratuities for State Retirees from 2014 to date and Local Government Retirees from September 2011 to date. Although, the government has agreed to make a quarterly release of N500million from January, 2021. This proposal is not acceptable to us as it would take 34years to offset the outstanding N68billion naira arrears, rather, we would suggest N1billion naira monthly release by the government."

He continued "Having served the state diligently and meritoriously to the best of our abilities for 35years or thereabout, we do not deserve this worst humiliation from the unconcerned politicians who spend only few years, take full pay and disengage with mouth watering severance allowances.

"As a result of payment of gratuity by Basic Rent and Transport (BRT) the set of pensioners concerned went to industrial court for redress.  The National Industrial Court delivered judgement in favour of Pensioners. 

"We demand for immediate execution of the judgement delivered on 4th March, 2020. This affect all Pensioners whose gratuities were unjustifiably cut-on BRT application during the payments in January 2017 and November, 2018 respectively and precisely those on the 2012 and 2013 lists".

The pensioners however, vowed to approach the court to seek redress if Governor Abiodun continues to further delay in meeting their demands.