By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State yesterday assured retirees that his administration will continue to focus on their welfare.
The Governor said, the incumbent administration in Osun will not hesitate to prioritize the well-being of the workers and pensioners in the state.
Governor Adeleke made this known in his speech during the distribution of bond cheques to the pensioners at the State Local Government Service Commission, state secretariat, Abere.
The governor described the distribution of the bond cheques to pensioners as a way of reaffirming their commitment to the care and the welfare of the senior citizens.
According to Mr Governor, “From the beginning of our administration, we have left no one in doubt as to our passion to address challenges facing pensioners and the pension sector. We had declared then that senior citizens deserve due attention from state leadership as a matter of duty. From November 27th, 2022 to date, we have kept faith with our pledge.
“Today, as we mark our second year anniversary, I restate our resolute policy of standing attention to pension matters. Our leadership will continue to resolve individual and personal issues plaguing the sector. In specific terms, we are working to standardize pension administration to ensure pensioners are treated with all required dignity and timeliness.
“Today, we are gathered here for the distribution of bond cheques to our contributory pensioners. As part of our determination to settle pension indebtedness, today we are paying out a total sum of One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eight Seven Naira (N1,999, 908,887.33). This is a combination for both state and local governments.
“For our administration in the last two years plus what we are paying out today, the total payment is the sum of Twenty Two Billion, Six Hundred Seventy One Million, Two Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Three Naira (N22,671,217,893.24).
“Our administration paid almost 70 percent under two years of what the former APC administration paid under 12 years.
“We added a life changing policy, the enrolment of pensioners in the health insurance scheme. This has eased access to health care for our senior citizens. Our love, care and support for pensioners is therefore not a political gimmick. It is about doing the right thing”.
