Osun Retirees Protest Non-release Of Local Govt Funds To Councils

Pensioners under the Osun State Contributory Pension Scheme have trooped out to the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, to protest the non-release of local government allocations to the state government in the past 12 months.

The placard-carrying pensioners with various inscriptions that read among others, “President Tinubu, help resolve local government fund allocation crisis in Osun”, “Non- release of local government funds to Osun state government has brought hardship to our members”, “We are hungry, President Tinubu”, “Our members are dying without receiving their entitlements”, appealed to President Tinubu to come to their aid.

The retirees thereafter commended the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for his efforts and commitment towards alleviating the suffering of retirees in the state, in a press conference jointly addressed by Alhaji Ayinde Toyeen, State Coordinator; Pastor Adepoju Sunday, Chairman; and Alhaja Abidoye, Chairperson 2.

According to them, Osun retirees are suffering severe hardship, and sadly, deaths are occurring daily due to financial distress and lack of access to adequate medical care.

“We, the retirees under the Osun State Contributory Pension Scheme, humbly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to kindly intervene and help save our souls.

“We passionately appeal to Mr President, who is the father of the nation, to kindly intervene in the Osun local governments imbroglio in the interest of the Osun contributory pensioners who are suffering.”

They also called on the president to work toward an amicable resolution of the problem, enabling the payment of outstanding entitlements to retirees, particularly Primary School and Local Government retirees between 2017 and 2026, Secondary School, Tertiary Institutions, and Civil Service retirees between 2020 and 2026.