From Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke yesterday surpassed the entire records of 12 years of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in pension payment with N12.7bn within one and half years as against N11.100bn of the entire Twelve years of the APC government.
Governor Adeleke made the disclosure amid cheering responses of senior citizens as the State Governor again released another N4bn bond for retirees at state and local government levels.
Governor Adeleke further said,
“For my administration, the amount of bonds released from December 2022 to date across State and LGAs is Twelve Billion, Seven Hundred and Nineteen Million, Two Hundred and Forty Five Naira ,N12, 719,245,528,00.
“I invite us all to note that the administration of my two predecessors for 12 years paid (N11,155,651,780.56) for gratuities at the State level. At the local level, the two previous governments for twelve years paid Six billion, Four Hundred and Eighty Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Four Naira (N6,488,876,324.58).
“On presentation of bond to retirees from December 2022 to date, our government has presented bond worth Six Billion, Fifty Three Million, Five Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Five Naira (N6,053,547,675.49) for 930 Retirees.
“From December 2022 to date, including that of today, the amount paid is Six Billion , Six Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two Naira (N6,665,697,852.87) for 1,355 retirees.
“Today, I am presenting a total of One Billion , Five Hundred and Eighty Eight Million, Four Hundred and Five Million and Four Naira (N1,588,405,004.85 ) for 247 retirees at state level. For local level, a total of Two Billion , Four Hundred and Twenty Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Six Naira (N2,420,953,426.71). The total I am presenting as bind today for both states and local retirees is Four Billion, Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand (N4,009,358,431.00)
“I invite us to note as I did on the gratuities payment comparison that my two predecessor for 12 years released bond worth Eleven Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy One Naira ( N11,150,871,889.00)”, the Governor affirmed.
He narrated further that “From 2022 to date, our government has paid One Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira (N1,800,000,000.00) as gratuities to civil servants, Tertiary Institutions, Parastatals and Secondary Schools at the state level.
“Within the same period, our government has paid local government and primary school retirees a total of Two Billion , Five Hundred and Fifteen Million, Eighty Thousand and Fifty Six Naira (N2,519,080,056.62). The total for states and local governments from 2022 to date is Four Billion, Three Hundred and Nineteen Million, Eighty Thousand and Fifty Six Naira (N4,319,080,056.62)”, Mr Governor disclosed.
Governor Adeleke provides further breakdown:
For my December 2022 to date = N12,719,245,528.00 while for my two predecessor, the total is N11,150,871,889.00.
“Permit me on this note to commend the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina and his team for their effective and efficient management of the public service especially with respect to the handling of salaries, pensions and gratuities of workers and pensioners. I salute the HOS for his doggedness , dedication to duty and his demonstrated strength to resolve knotty issues. I am proud of you and your able team of bureaucrats.
“I also want to reaffirm our government’s commitment to upholding workers’ welfare as the Number One priority on our governance agenda. For Osun state, the nexus between formal and informal workforce justifies our focus on well treated public service. We will continue to devote our time to paying off the pension and half salary debt while also providing succor to the workforce”, the Governor noted.
Representatives of the pensioners, Gbenga Oyadare and Toyin Ayinde both commended Governor Adeleke , declaring that “ there is no vacancy in Abere come 2026”.
