Plight of Ekiti State pensioners, By Yemi Adebowale
The new Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has promised to correct the ills and bad governance by past administrations in the state, while at the same time talking about continuity. Continuity of garbage? Oyebanji is obviously a confused person. The Ekiti State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Joel Akinola, rightly noted that the governor must be selective in his much-emphasised continuity, saying, “You can only continue with what is good; don’t continue with bad governance.”
I doubt if Oyebanji will be different from previous hopeless governments in Ekiti State. I see him as “same of the same.” I’m hoping he will prove me wrong. Oyebanji should start by first addressing the plight of the state’s pensioners. The Fayose and Fayemi governments really messed up these seniors. They pummeled them with so much venom for daring to serve the state.
Akiola, leader of the pensioners puts it precisely: “We have arrears of unpaid gratuities, about N40 billion that past governments have refused to attend to. Local government pensioners were last paid gratuities in 2012, some of which are still outstanding, while state pensioners were last paid gratuities in 2013. The government is owing local government pensioners seven months’ pension arrears while state pensioners are owed three months’ pension arrears. This is beside the non-adjustment of our pensions.
“We have pensioners still receiving N4,000 monthly. At the close of the Fayemi administration, we had lost over 300 pensioners to death for his refusal to pay our gratuities and pensions. We have more than 400 bedridden because they cannot access medical facilities and, as well, lack money to properly take care of themselves. Fayemi began non-payment of gratuities to pensioners during his first tenure. His successor, Fayose built on what he met on the ground, and Fayemi returned to consolidate it.”
My dear Oyebanji, posterity will not forgive you if you fail to swiftly address the plight of Ekiti pensioners. The blood of those that died waiting for pension and gratuity are on the heads of your predecessors. I hope you don’t want this to happen to you?
First published in Thisday Newspaper
