Oyo Assembly to Ajimobi: Pay pensioners’ entitlements now

Oyo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, appealed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi to consider the payment of arrears to pensioners in the state.
The appeal followed a motion by the lawmaker representing Ona Ara Constituency, Mr Azeez Biliaminu, on “passionate appeal for the payment of pensioners’ entitlements’’.
In the motion, Biliaminu said some of the pensioners could not afford regular feeding and medical attention due to their financial constraints.
“The children and wards of pensioners are already overwhelmed by nuclear family responsibilities while some of them are unemployed or under-employed.
“I know the governor has been trying in the dwindling economy to pay workers salaries and pensioners entitlements.
“The governor surprised everyone in his first tenure by paying 142 per cent pension arrears which can’t be forgotten by Oyo State pensioners.
“We know that as soon as the Federal Government increased pensions by six per cent and 15 per cent, Oyo State under Governor Ajimobi placed pensioners on these pension increase, ” he said.
Biliaminu added that he was concerned that pensioners still had additional request and expectations from the governor.
“I urge for a screening to be conducted just like that of the Federal Government to checkmate ghost pensioners.
“These pensioners require adequate regular feeding and medical care which cannot be met without adequate financial strength,’’ he said.
The Speaker, Mr Michael Adeyemo (APC-Ibarapa East), directed its committee on Establishments, Labour and Productivity to liaise with state and local government pension boards.
A Bill for a Law to amend the Oyo State Sports Council also passed second reading.