LG pensioners protest exclusion from Nov. payment

Local government retirees in Ekiti state have asked Governor Kayode Fayemi to investigate why they were left out in the November payment of salary and pensions while core civil servants and other pensioners in the state were paid.

They expressed regrets that despite introducing centralized payment for all pensioners in the state, they were sidelined in the November payment.

The retirees under the aegis of Concerned Local Government Pensioners’ Association of Nigeria also lauded the government decision to make payment of pension to Ekiti retirees from a central source describing it as a veritable way to curb corruption in the state civil service.

They said the process would make retirees at the state and local government levels be given equal attention and receive their payments when conventional civil servants are paid.

Fayemi had upon assumption of office on October 16 promised to initiative centralized electronic payment to all pensioners in the state, to remove noticeable delay leading to excruciating pains and hardship on the parts of pensioners.

The Chairman of the group, Alhaji Quadri Oguntuase and Secretary, Mr. Abiodun Agboola, who spoke with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Thirsday said they found it disheartening that his members were still not paid the November pension in spite of the promise made by the governor that all pensioners will henceforth be paid centrally.

They urged Fayemi to resolve the logjam leading to delay in the payment of November salary and also investigate the mystery behind the delay and impose appropriate sanctions on workers creating unnecessary bottleneck causing untold hardship to members.

Oguntuase expressed sadness that many of their members who are on drugs could not afford their medicare owing to acute financial problem, urging the governor to meddle in the issue and resolve the delay in the interest of the local government pensioners.

“Our fear was assuaged by the promise made by Governor Fayemi that all State and local government pensioners will be paid centrally to ensure prompt payment and checkmate corruption. We agreed with this arrangement and praise the governor for this landmark initiative.

“On Friday November 30 , in line with Governor Fayemi’s vow to pay as and when due, all the serving local government workers, State retirees and even primary school teachers pensioners received their payment while the local government retirees were left behind.

“We are a little bit taken aback by this delay, because all our colleagues have been paid. Even the primary school teachers retirees who are under local governments have been paid , why are we now being sidelined?.”