Pensioners in Ekiti State have been implored not to make themselves instruments of blackmail in the hands of politicians ahead of the June 18 election.
Panelists on a live radio programme tagged “Setigbo? ” jointly aired by major Radio Stations in Ekiti state made the appeal while speaking on issues that concern retired government workers in Ekiti .
The panelists include special Assistant on Public Affairs; Chief Niyi Ojo, Special Assistant on Media; Mrs Mary Oso-Omotoso, Special Assistant on Labour; Barr. Kolawole Olaiya and Commissioner in the pension Commission, Honorable Lekan Idiowo.
While taking a retrospect on treatment melted on pensioners and civil servants by past governments , Barr. Kolawole Olaiya noted that the immediate past administration diverted several financial support received from the Federal Government to defray debts owed workers and subjected them to hardship .
Barr. Olaiya who was a labour leader during the past administration gave many instances where the immediate past government owed pension allowances and workers’ salaries , a situation that has never been experienced with the current administration.
Barrister Olaiya said despite the megre allocation received from the Federal Government , Ekiti Government still struggles to pay backlog of pension and salaries owed by immediate past administration.
Also commenting, Mr. Lekan Idiowo maintained that Ekiti State remained one of the best in the South West when it comes to regular payment of pension , saying only few states like Lagos could compete favorably with Ekiti .
Mr Idiowo said that in the four years of the immediate past administration,the total money paid for gratuity was 800M Naira while the current administration of less than four years has so far paid over 3b Naira for gratuity .
On her part, the Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotoso said it would amount to blackmail if anyone could say the present administration is not paying pension regularly.
She took time to read various appreciation letters written by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ekiti State Council to express gratitude to Governor Fayemi for paying them regularly and keeping up with his promises of providing 100M Naira monthly for gratuity .
In his contribution, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Chief Niyi Ojo said the present administration had done well by doing its best in paying pension regularly and finding away of paying the over 20b naira gratuity in the state but the arrangement introduced by Governor Fayemi was politicized and therefore halted .
He added that gratuity debts is nation wide and it would amount to deceit if anyone makes campaign promises to defray the debts with Ekiti State Government funds which ordinarily are not enough to pay workers’ salaries .
The panelists therefore appealed to the pensioners to be patient and cooperate with government so as to remain partners for their own progress.
