Aregbesola and Osun State Pensioners
Osun State pensioners spent most of last week protesting huge unpaid gratuity and pension. They also accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of diverting bailout funds meant for payment of salaries and pensions. The chairman of the retirees, Omoniyi Ilesanmi revealed that more than 2,000 retirees had died waiting for pension and gratuity, while many others are down with various ailments. “Many of our members are married to their wheel chairs till God knows when. Their children are out of school because of inability to pay fees. The untimely and avoidable deaths continue unabated among us because of non-payment of our benefits,” remarked Ilesanmi.
Instead of addressing issues raised by these retirees, the government mischievously sponsored a faction of the Union to counter the protest. Aregbesola has also been pushing out a lot of falsehoods about payments to these senior citizens. This is the height of man’s inhumanity to man. The situation in Osun State is terrifying. Few weeks back, medical doctors in the state health institutions were on the streets demonstrating against payment of incomplete salaries. Both serving and retired civil servants are going through hell here. Aregbesola represents pain. The leadership of the NLC and TUC must step in to save these hapless people from further anguish.