When you think of the difference between contribution and commitment, think also of the bacon and the egg. The chicken makes the contribution while the pig makes the commitment.
His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, matches words with actions as he delivers a heartwarming message to the Pensioners in Osun State today, as part of the activities lined up to commemorate the second year anniversary of his administration.
It is my privilege to address our senior citizens today as we again fulfill our obligations and responsibilities. As we have done in the last two years, we are here to further reaffirm our commitment to the care and the welfare of our senior citizens.
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. I am happy to inform our senior citizens and the general public about what each administration from former Governor Rauf Aregbesola to date has paid in the pension sector.
Former Governor Aregbesola’s payment as at 2018 was a total sum of Seventeen Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty One Naira (N17,152,662,351.26). Former Governor Oyetola’s payment as at 2022 was a total sum of Seventeen Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million, Four Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eight Naira (N17,255,424,708.51).
The total for the two previous administrations under a 12 year period was Thirty Four Billion, Four Hundred and Eight Million, Eighty Seven Thousand and Fifty Naira ( N34,408,087,059.77). 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.
As much as we still have a lot of ground to cover, we have started on a strong note. We have proved to our elderly people that we are with them, that we seriously care about their well being. Other outstanding issues in the pension sector are to be looked into. The Head of Service is mandated to compile a list of other unresolved issues facing pensioners, especially areas they still want our government to focus on. This will further ensure adequate state response to areas of needs.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our dear senior citizens, we are ensuring attention to all sectors within a tight financial situation.The dwindling value of Naira has negatively affected the actual value of the state fund including the less than 20 percent increment in federal allocation. The consequence is that what we earn today as a state is less in value compared to what obtained under the previous administration.
Despite the situation, our administration has delivered across the sectors. Leadership of the pension union is invited to the town hall meeting holding by Wednesday for detailed accountability and scorecard. To state workers, I reassure you of our unshaken commitment to your welfare which is number one item on our five point agenda. We are a government of workers, labour, pensioners and the masses.
Before I end my address, I must commend the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina and his team for their strong performance in service delivery and in the ongoing reform of the public service. We value your contributions. I thank you for listening.
HE, Senator Ademola Adeleke,
Executive Governor of Osun State.
By Victor Ajibade
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