Osun Pensioners Pledge Continuing Support For Adeleke's Government, Debunk Protest

By Taofik Jimoh

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Osun State chapter has reacted to a misinformation from some elements who claimed to be members of the union, that the state government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke has reneged in his promise regarding the payment of pensioners in the state.

The union said the information is untrue and can only emanate from those who are being used by the opposition members to discredit the current administration.

Speaking with our correspondent, the State Chairman of the union in Osun, Alhaji (Prince) G.O Salawu said the governor has been doing well in terms of welfare of the people, especially pensioners in the state.

He stated that Governor Adeleke has been very friendly to pensioners. “Out of all the governors we have in Osun, Governor Adeleke has been very friendly to pensioners in the state. The half salary that he knows nothing about, today he has been paying the money gradually.

“I want to say it unequivocally that on behalf of our members, the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Osun State chapter, we are solidly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke. He is trying and he can still do better. We should continue to pray for his government.”

In his own remarks, the State secretary of NUP, Elder Lawrence Dele Aina, said the union is not aware of any protest from any member and that whoever that is planning such should desist because the governor has been doing well for the pensioners in the state “unless we want to be an ingrate.”

Elder Aina posited that the government is trying and we cannot deny that fact. He said, “This man is trying. We have some people who have occupied the position for twelve years and they did nothing, rather they added to our suffering.”

However, sources within the Pension Office who doesn’t want their names quoted revealed that, two members of the said pressure group who claimed fighting for contributory pensioners, do come to the Bureau to demand for documents of the beneficiaries, which they are doing for their own personal gains.

“All they are doing is business. They usually come here to demand for beneficiaries’ names. All they do is to get those names, convince the beneficiaries to move from PFA to annuity and this attracts commission for them. This is what they do.”