Osun: Pensioners Stage Protest As State Receives Paris Club Refund

A fresh protest has ensued by pensioners in Osun State following the recent release of the second tranche of N243.795 billion as Paris Club refund to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

According to data released by the Federal Government on Tuesday, Osun state government received N6.314 billion.

The pensioners under the aegis of Forum of 2011/2012 Pensioners in Osun are demanding for payment of the arrears of their pensions and gratuities.

They stormed the State Civil Service Secretariat at Abere and blocked part of the road.

Speaking to the media, Chairman of the forum, Mr Omoniyi Ilesanmi, told Governor Rauf Aregbesola to use the money to pay the entitlements of pensioners.

According to Mr Ilesanmi, the pensioners were being owed one-year full pension arrears and gratuities from 2008 to 2012.

He said that thousands of his colleagues have died due to lack of money to food and drugs to treat themselves.

“The governor should use the N6.314bn he just collected to pay us. He should look for money from anywhere to pay us all our entitlements,” mr Ilesanmi said.

The chairman said the pensioners will make the state ungovernable for the governor except he paid their entitlements.