Pensioners oppose Aregbesola’s ‘second coming’, urge Governor Adeleke to clear arrears
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The 2011/2012 Retired Public Servants’ Association of Osun State and the Unbonded Contributory Scheme Pensioners on Thursday called on stakeholders to prevent what they described as the “second coming” of former governor, Rauf Aregbesola, through his agents and associates in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking during a protest held in Osogbo, the chairman of the group, Comrade Omoniyi Ilesanmi, who said they represent about 32,000 pensioners, warned that Aregbesola’s return would spell further doom for workers, retirees and the state’s economy.
They alleged that his eight-year administration was marked by policies detrimental to the welfare of civil servants and the general public.
The protesters accused Aregbesola of deliberate deductions from salaries and pensions, as well as alleged misappropriation and diversion of public funds. They cited a N34.988 billion bailout loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria, a N14.4 billion Budget Support Fund, a N13.6 billion Relief Fund and a N20.814 billion Paris Club refund, claiming the funds were misappropriated by the former governor.
“Aregbesola illegally withdrew N70 billion contributed by workers under the administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. This was another notable financial impropriety of his regime,” the group alleged.
In the education sector, the retirees described the “Opon Imo” initiative as a scam, alleging that a N1 billion contract was awarded to the former governor’s son and that the tablets were not found in schools. They also faulted the unified school uniform policy and the reclassification of schools into Elementary, Middle and High Schools, blaming the reforms for confusion and poor performance in national examinations.
The 2011/2012 retirees urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to kick-start the payment of arrears of half pensions on a quarterly basis and review the current schedule to ensure that the arrears are paid monthly. However, the Unbonded Contributory Pensioners (2017–2025) refuted claims that Adeleke’s government had cleared all outstanding bonds and 16 half-salary arrears owed to bonded pensioners.
The leader of the group, Comrade Awodele Abiodun, said payments made between 2023 and 2025 covered only a fraction of beneficiaries, leaving thousands still waiting. He appealed to the governor to prioritise the full settlement of the outstanding bonds as promised during the 2022 governorship campaign.
