Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Dayo Adeyeye has decried non-payment of gratuities of public servants in the State, who retired from the public service since last year.
Adeyeye, who is also a chieftain of Afenifere, described the non-payment as criminal, said “the government has also refused to pay the pensioners their arrears of harmonisation, which is commensurate increment in pension in line with increment of workers’ salaries”
Speaking through the Director General of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Bisi Kolawole, the PDP governorship aspirant said it was painful that the same government that could not pay pensioners their gratuities since last year is now spending over N100 million to send more than 50 youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to South Africa on a nine days jamboree.
Adeyeye lamented the inhuman manner in which pensioners in the State are being treated, saying; “when PDP was in government in the state, pensioners received their gratuities within 60 days of retirement while pension was paid on the 22nd of the month.”
He described non-payment of retirees entitlements on time as sinful and a direct invitation to fraud; saying those still in service would have no option than to steal government fund in other to secure their old age.
“Late 2011, a verification exercise was carried out to ascertain the number of pensioners in the state. Then, the governor’s promise was that after the verification exercise, the harmonisation arrears will be paid. But more than two years after, it has not been paid.
“Instead of paying the pensioners, the State Government is busy wasting public fund on Governor Kayode Fayemi’s second term bid, advertisement of fake achievements, NGOs workshop and seminars that are not beneficial to the people.
“As we speak, over 50 youths of the APC in Ekiti State are South Africa bound, and they are to spend nine days for what they termed ‘Leadership skills training’ and we ask; can’t leadership skills be learn in Nigeria?
“It is therefore important that well-meaning Ekiti leaders prevail on Fayemi to stop treating our elders, who had served the state even when he (Fayemi) was still a toddler, like beggars because he too will grow old one day,” Adeyeye said.
