Date: 2017-02-22

The Governorship flag-bearer of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2015 general elections in Kwara State, Dr Mike Omotosho, has bemoaned the devastated condition of local government pensioners in the state owed N7billion in pension and gratuity.

He said it was sad that those who served the state meritoriously for decades with the energy of their youth are now languishing in poverty and squalor.

In a statement issued by his media office, Dr Omotosho asked the state government to defray the pension arrears from the London-Paris Club refunds the state received recently from the Federal Government.

He stated that it was painful that the affected retirees could not receive what he referred to as "paltry sum" at the end of the month to cater for domestic purpose and attend to their health resulting in multiple deaths of the pensioners.

The former governorship candidate noted that it behooves the government to prioritize the welfare of both active and retired workers irrespective of their status.

It is recalled that the Association of Local Government Pensioners in Kwara State last week held a press conference where it expressed displeasure over non-payment of backlogs of gratuity and pension arrears running into billions of naira.

The association had since declared seven days fasting and prayers for God's intervention over their plights. Dr Omotosho, however, explained that while he was not unaware of the financial challenges bedeviling all tiers of government, occasioned by the current economic recession, it will not be appropriate to owe people who rendered diligent service to the state.

He noted that the money received through the refunds should be judiciously used to bring succour to the people ravaged by the cash crunch.

The statement by Dr Omotosho partly reads, "The condition in which our senior citizens, especially the local government pensioners in Kwara State found themselves is disheartening or how else could one describe the tale of hardship inflicted on these people due to unpaid several months of gratuity and pension arrears after serving our dear state selflessly and meritoriously.

"Now that they should be enjoying the fruit of their labour after over three decades in service, they are groaning under the yoke of outstanding arrears.

"Having been informed that they are being owed N7billion in gratuity and pension, we are pained that the situation could get to this level. Because of this, they are living in abject poverty and squalor.

"As a result of inability to buy drugs and food to cater for themselves, many of them had died while some are still languishing in medical facilities without hope of getting money to foot their medical bill.

"While we bemoan the condition our local government pensioners innocently found themselves, we call on the Kwara State government to use part of the London-Paris Club refunds to defray the gratuity and pension arrears owed our senior citizens. The pains of these old ones that laid golden eggs for the state is unbearable, they need their entitlements to take care of themselves.

"We understand that there are other things calling for government attention, but we can't close our eyes on the issue of welfare of the people, which we think, should be the topmost in every other consideration.

"This appeal is in good faith, we believe others will join us in this call to respect old age".