Nigerian Union of Pensioners,
the Polytechnic Ibadan branch has called on Oyo state governor Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde to increase funding for the payment of gratuity of their members.
According to them, the outstanding gratuity is one billion seven hundred million Naira. N1.7bn naira
The retirees who also frowned at selective payment of some of the members by the ministry of Finance said said efforts to meet with the commissioner for finance to explain their plight is yet to yield positive result as the commissioner is yet to respond to their letters or invite them for a meeting.
“We are aware that some staff of the ministry do help some of our member to alter their data of retirement so as to fastract their payment without considering others who are have long left service before them”.
Addressing Journalists at the Pensioners Secretariat in Ibadan today, the branch Chairman Engineer Segun Akindele said o about 28% of the members have died due to their inability to take proper care of their failing health or meet up with life demands,
“Please recall, that the State Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners joined other Unions in the state to protest in July, 2023, the outcome of which led to the Governor making a promise to pay gratuity to Oyo State Pensioners in August, 2023. His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde fulfilled released funds for the payment of Gratuity in August, 2023. As a matter of fact, the funds were released together with the August, 2023 Salaries of workers in Oyo State. Retirees in Oyo State, with the exception of the Retirees of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, were paid in September, 2023.The Retirees of the Polytechnic, Ibadan were not paid until January 18, 2024 because the list and funds for payment were not sent to the Polytechnic, Ibadan until December, 2023 by the Ministry of Finance.
“The list of Retirees sent by the Ministry of Finance contained names of One hundred and one (101) members out of which twenty-eight (28), were deceased and was funded by just Thirty Million, Seven Hundred Thousand (#30.7M) Naira Only. Though, the Union and its members agreed to installmental payment, some were paid Two Hundred Thousand (#200k) Naira only out of Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand (#7.5M) Naira while the previous payment was made in September, 2022. Can you see our plight?”
“Another list for payment of Gratuity was received on Campus on February, 2024 and was not backed-up with funds. The list is made-up of One hundred and ten (110) members out of which twenty-eight (28) are deceased.”
To our surprise, the list contained largely, the same names that were paid in January, 2024, instead of the list to be drawn from the two hundred and thirty-nine (239) members that were left out in the list of December, 2023.”
They however demanded that payment should run through the entire members of retirees before it will come to the turn of whoever has been paid before. That is, no member should be paid twice when there is a member who has not been paid once.”
Also that the current practice by Officers of the ministry of finance is stopped and arrested by the commissioner for finance to as to prevent the lists of payment to be made-up of 75% deceased and 25% living.
