Adeleke Yusuf in Abeokuta
The pensioners under Local Government in Ogun State on Tuesday accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of turning deaf ears to their plights, adding that having submitted eleven letters to him over non-payment of their pension allowance, he has failed to honour the appeal.
Penpushing reports that, the Chairman Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria(LOGPAN), Chief Sikiru Ayilara made this known at a press conference held at the association secretariat in Abeokuta.
The aggrieved pensioners disclosed that, they have also resorted to embark on fasting and prayers for God to soften the heart of the Governor to look into their plights with positive response.
‘We have submitted 11 letters to the Governor and the tenth letter was handed to him personally on Independence day 2020, yet we have not see any changes. All issues complained about and presented, and made public through your concerted efforts in the dailies were all jettisoned and not attended to by the state government till date. We are not saying this out of envy but that we all deserve to be handled and treated equitably because What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander’, he stated
Penpushing further reports that, Ayilara disclosed that the association will embark on peaceful protests as soon as possible as another avenue to get what they want, which is pension allowances and their rights
The pensioners lamented that it is shocking that, it has now become herculean task for them in securing audience with the Governor, stressing that the non-challance of the Governor is not to the pensioners’ best interest
Penpushing also reports that, the pensioners listed other worries and demands as include; late payment of monthly pensions, payment of gratuities, reviewed of monthly pensions, resuscitation of board of bureau of local government pension and opening of communication line with the Governor.
The association expressed worry that, it is sad and regrettable that, the local government pensioners and retired primary school teachers are being made victims of circumstances that was not created by them.
Penpushing further reports that, the chairman added that, the pensioners are the one bearing the “brunt of the so called shortfall in allocation from the Federal Government and being treated like slaves or second class citizens while the state pensioners are being treated as sacred cow.
The chairman pointed out that their colleagues at state are receiving their pay as at when due, simply because parents of the Governor are state pensioners, noting that the state pensioners are being paid by the 28th of the month while the local government pensioners payment now slide, overlap and have to wait till almost following month end which is unjust and unfair.
.Penpushing also reports that, Ayilara called on government to address all discrimination and resolve whatever difference in such a way that the local government pensioners will not suffer untold hardship and face ill health, stressing that, most pensioners apart from the sustenance are on daily life supporting drugs and should not be allowed to continue dying prematurely.
“It is worrisome to announce to the world that our Govenor has not been accessible and available to the unions. This is creating a dangerous gap. It would be recalled that we had written eleven letters to him with the 10th handed over to him in person on Independence Day of 2020’.
‘Yet he has not created avenue for rappor with the association which the government needs badly. We hereby enjoin him to change this attitude of neglect and disregard to humanity, the welfare of whom he swore to protect before getting to the office”,Ayilara emphasised
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