Adebo Ogundoyin, the speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, has said that previous governors before Governor Seyi Makinde were owing pensioners the sum of N56 billion.
Ogundoyin made this disclosure while speaking during the pensioners day celebration in Ibadan on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Our correspondent recalls that four civilian governors have ruled the state since the beginning of the fourth democratic dispensation in the country.
The previous governors are late Lamidi Adesina (1999-2003) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja (2003-2007) Adebayo Alao-Akala (2007-2011) and late Abiola Ajimobi (2011-2019).
The speaker has, however, declared that the previous governors were owing pensioners the sum of N56bn before Makinde came to power in 2019.
Ogundoyin while addressing the pensioners promised that Makinde would offset the accumulated gratuity owed by the previous governors before the end of his administration in 2023.
He spoke further by saying that before the commencement of the present administration, a sum of N100 million was usually committed monthly to the payment of pensions.
He added that Makinde had increased the money to about N300 billion
He said, “By the end of this administration in 2023, Governor Seyi Makinde would have offset the N56 billion accumulated gratuities owed pensioners by the previous Governments in Oyo State.
“Our Pensioners have been receiving their pensions on the 25th of every month just like the Oyo State workers.
“Before the commencement of this government, a sum of N100 million was usually committed monthly to the payment of pensions. But Governor Seyi Makinde had increased the money to about N300 billion.
Ogundoyin while speaking further added that the state House of Assembly had passed the Oyo State Pension Board Amendment Bill, 2021, and the Elderly Persons Protection Bill, 2021 into Law.
He appealed to the pensioners to desist from investing their gratuities and money in businesses they have no full knowledge of.
“Our Pensioners are elderly people and we cannot do without their wealth of experience. I want to appeal that as our fathers and mothers, we should take care of our health and engage in more recreational activities to promote their well-being.”
