Pensioners on payroll of the Ogun State Government are groaning over their unpaid gratuities, nearing one and half month, after the expiration of the second quarter agreement for the quarterly payment of N500million, as part of the outstanding amount running into several billion of naira
State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Bola Lawal in an interview with Edu-Biznews on Monday in Abeokuta, says the union is under serious pressure from members and has given Governor Dapo Abiodun within this week, to fastrack the release of N500million for payment of the second quarter payment
He explained that the union had been interfacing with top government functioneries , particularly the Secretary To State Government,Mr.Tokunbo Talabi on the need for the release of the quarterly payment of N500million as agreed with union by the Prince Dapo Abiodun's administration
Lawal added that nothing has been paid since the last payment of N500million was made on 24th of March for first quarter of the year
His words,"we expect the second quarter payment ought to have been made between April and June, nothing was released, we have been pressurising the State Government to let us stand by our agreement on the quarterly release of N500million for payment of the gratuities"
"Right now the promise given to us by government, is that the payment for the second quarter will be made within the second week of August, because the third quarter ends in September and that is where we stand", he stated
Lawal however warned that the union would have no option than to review the whole situation as regards the agreement at the council level to take the next line of action ,if the money was not paid within this week
"If by the end of the second week and the one money is not paid, I don't know what will happen because the pensioners have been pressurising us(the union), calling us names that we are not doing enough as a union for them to get their entitlements. We are seriously under pressure as a union and we are appealing to government to please let us stand by the agreement ,if not paid at the end of this week, we may meet at the council level to determine next line of action", he declared
He explaind that the state pensioners union had initially rejected the N500million but later reluctantly agreed on the basis that the quarterly payment would be regular to gradually reduce the backlog of gratuities running into several billion of naira
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