Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has presented bond cheques for contributory pensioners for both state and local government retirees in the state.
Adeleke paid 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) to the pensioners who expressed their gratitude to the governor.
The presentation was made at the Local Government Service Commission hall in Osogbo on Monday.
Meanwhile, the governor has argued that his administration has outperformed his two predecessors in the pension sector within two years of his government.
According to Adeleke, the former governments of Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola, in total of 12 years, were able to only pay the sum of N34,408,087,059.77 to pensioners.
He said his administration paid over N47 billion under two years, which is almost 70 percent of what the former administrations of the All Progressives Congress paid under 12 years.
According to him, 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).
He added that 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).
Adeleke then said that 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 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). While for local government pension stands at N25 billion. Making out payment in two years to over N47 billion.
“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,” Adeleke said.