A retired Permanent Secretary in Ogun State, Abiodun Awere has passionately begged Governor Dapo Abiodun to pay his gratuity after his voluntary retirement, due to health condition, stressing that he needs the money to take care of his health.
Penpushing reports that, Awere made the appeal in a letter sent to Chief of Staff to the Governor and Secretary to the State Government, adding that, the payment became necessary to avoid untimely death
The former Permanent Secretary who left office few months ago explained that he needs to attend to his health, as a matter of urgency, which involved surgical operations of his eyes, adding that, he is also nursing diabetic and high blood pressure
‘Sir, each day I look back at my loss while in service, l feel devastated, but also quickly thank the Almighty Allah for sparing my life and making me a Permanent Secretary in Ogun State. After all, when there is life, there is hope’.
Penpushing further reports that, Awere who pointed out that enjoyment of retirement benefits sweet while alive, said despite his loyalty while in office, he did not and till date has not benefited rights and privileges attached to office as Permanent Secretary
‘However, kindly permit me to note this, sir: there are Privileges and Rights attaching to the position of a Head of Service or Permanent Secretary such as: official car, robe allowance, furniture allowance, leave bonus and immediate payment of gratuity upon retirement. I humbly wish to state that l have not benefited in any of these despite the loyalty and dedication to the two principals and Government for almost 3 years as a Permanent Secretary in the State’, Awere stated.
‘With due respect sir, l recall various deep nights, between 1a.m — 2 a.m on constant occasions, that l would be called upon to salvage various government assignments and without any hesitation, l usually rose to the occasion despite strings of dangers attached to walking late and at such time. Of course, I always consider it as dedication to duty, loyalty, respect and passion for my work’ he added.
‘Sir, it is pertinent to recall that l lost a personal vehicle on my way to Igbesa for the turning of sod. That day, l abandoned my vehicle at Otta Tollgate only to join Okada in other to avoid traffic for the timely delivery of the programme brochure assigned to me to salvage at 1am for the 10 am event’ Awere said.
‘Lo and behold, by the time I returned to the spot where I abandoned my car, it had been stolen, and not found till date! Unfortunately on my side, I put the record cushion help to my retirement period, but soon dawn on me that my official car would not be allocated to me’, he lamented.
‘The only reward was that,” Awere was making money and that, he has printing machines, that must be making him perform wonderfully and quick delivery. However, the truth is that, till today, I don’t have any printing machine nor press of any kind, but always handing those printing jobs over to government’s trusted people from Lagos. lt was just my passion as PS, lnformation that always propelled me to ensure that the assignment must not fail’
‘Sir, my heart bleeds when discovered that after just few months of my retirement from service, official vehicles were allocated to the remaining Permanent Secretaries, including the new ones without consideration of our own labour, sacrifice and loss. Some who are aware of my efforts called me “Used and Dumped” Permanent Secretary’ he lamented.
‘It is pertinent to remind you, sirs that I retired voluntarily on health ground to travel abroad for my eyes operation .For those who don’t know, l have been combining and treating High Blood Pressure and Diabetic in the last 15 years with my official duty. For this, I wrote the government on compassionate ground to pay part of my gratuity for the operation with Dr’s confirmation and recommendation, up till today, no response received’ he emphasised
‘Government may be facing financial straits, notwithstanding, when the position of Permanent Secretary is considered as the highest representative of the Government in the Civil Service (apart from HoS), my personal sacrifice, as well as loss of a personal vehicle on assignment, I kindly appeal that you consider the allocation of a vehicle as a replacement of my personal car that got lost on official assignment’.
‘I will forever be grateful and appreciative of your efforts at giving this request, the attention it so deserved as I plead on your milk of kindness and love, Sir. Once again, I thank you both, and the entire State Government under the leadership of our indefatigable Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun for the good work the administration had continued to do in the socio-economic development of our dear State.
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