Rufus Giwa Polytechnic pensioners lament non payment of pension

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8 years ago

PENSIONERS under the aegis of Association of Retired Staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, at the weekend cried out over the non- payment of their pension increase and gratuity from 2006 to date.

The pensioners, who made the demand in a press statement by the association Chairman, Mr Rufus Oguntoyinbo and its General Secretary, Steven Olufiwoye, stated that retired staff of the polytechnic had been subjected to pathetic conditions due to the non payment of their pension increase, arrears and gratuity.

The pensioners said the demand became imperative because of the unwillingness and levity with which the state government and the authorities of the polytechnic have been handling the issue over the years.

“We continually and persistently met the management team of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic on the issue and when no action was taken in 2012, we requested that the affected pensioners be placed on the increased pension award.

They explained that the outstanding gratuity, pension and pension increase arrears amounted N912m, saying it excluded the 33 per cent pension increase approved by the Federal Government in 2010.

Oguntoyinbo said the association decided to meet the state governor and the members of House of Assembly following the failure of the school management to attend to their plight.

According to him, the lawmakers expressed their surprise over the treatment meted on the pensioners while the Rector of the school then, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, attributed the non payment of the pension and gratuity to inadequate funds and subventions.

He however said despite the directives from the state House of Assembly ordering for the payment of the arrears of pension from 2006 in accordance with enhanced salary but the school management failed to comply with such directive.

“A retiree died because he could not afford to raise N500 to buy his regular drug while death of 57 members reported within the last three years did not count before the management of RUGIPO.”

The pensioners however appealed to the incoming government in the state to look into their plight by ordering the payment of their pension increase, arrears and gratuity.