”Stop using pensions, gratuity matters for political gains”

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Osun State under the aegis of Triangular Group on Monday cautioned politicians and some retired civil servants in the state to stop using the issue of pensions and gratuity for political gains. Addressing a press conference at the Press Center of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Osun State, […]

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Osun State under the aegis of Triangular Group on Monday cautioned politicians and some retired civil servants in the state to stop using the issue of pensions and gratuity for political gains.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Center of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Osun State, the Chairman of the Triangular Group of Pensioners in the state, Prince Rotimi Adelugba said politicians were using some pensioners to embarrass the state government.

Adelugba faulted the protest staged by some pensioners last week which he described as politically motivated and sponsored. He noted that the press conference was organised to debunk the claims of some pensioners who said that the pensioners are owed up to May.

He stated that the agitation by the pensioners that protested was politically motivated in a bid to execute the minds of some politicians. He queried the rationale behind protest at a time that the Osun West Senatorial bye-election was around the corner.

Adelugba said that all pensioners in Osun State have been paid their pension up to May, 2017 in line with the approved schedules. ‎He explained that the schedule for payment in the state was a reflection of the Memorandum of Understanding / Agreement signed by both government and Labour in which NUP was not left out.

He attributed the backlog of gratuities to insensitivity of successive administrations in the state. He lauded Aregbesola for revisiting the backlog for payments.

‎His words, "The conference became necessary in order to let the general public know the position of our Group on the demonstration and the phantom lies peddled by the Omoniyi Ilesami’s led 2011/2012 Forum of Retirees.

"Permit me to make clear that The Triangular Group of Pensioners are bonafide members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, State of Osun who strongly believe in peace, dialogue and the welfare of pensioners in the state and have been doing everything within the law to make sure that pensioner’s welfare and interest is jealously guided.