By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has hit the ground running immediately he was sworn in as the sixth democratic Governor of the state. As a God-fearing Governor, Adeleke leaves no stone unturned as he expended his government to pensioners and Persons Living With Disabilities.
Adeleke within his hundred days in office put smile on the faces of pensioners who have long before now praying for their contributory pensions to be paid.
Addressing them while handing over their certificates to them Adeleke said, “Let me make this clear. I am not doing you any favour. I am only fulfilling the task you voted me to do. It is in that spirit that I am extending this attention to the contributory pensioners.
“Under the Contributory Pension Scheme, I ordered the release of a sum of N700million between November, 2022 and January, 2023 for bond certificates for retirees at the State level.
“For retirees at the Local Government level, I approved the sum of N828million for bond certificates for retirees in primary schools and local governments between November, 2022 and January, 2023.
“I have also acted with respect to the Old Pension Scheme.
“At the State level, from inception of the administration to the end of January, 2023, a sum of N200million has been paid as gratuity.
“At the local government level, the sum of N150million has so far been released as gratuity to retired local government staff and primary school staff.
“Today, 119 retirees cutting across the civil service, parastatals and tertiary institutions are being given their bond certificates totaling N632,952,655.56.
“For local government service, 62 retirees are to be given bond certificates totaling N205,428,602.07.
“Primary School retirees totaling 92 will be given bond certificates totaling N621,819,731.03.
“In summary, our government has so far released a sum of N1.528billion for bond certificates for retired workers of both State and Local Government while a sum of N350million had equally been released as gratuities to retired staff of Local Governments, primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, civil servants,staff of parastatals etc.”
In terms of infrastructure, Adeleke who promised the people of the state that his government will do everything possible to rehabilitate and construct roads across the state, said the people of Ikirun will forever be grateful to the Adeleke-led administration after he completes the 10.5km phase II of the Osogbo/Ikirun/Kwara State boundary road.
Also in his efforts to ensure that people living with disabilities are empowered with equipment and funds, Adeleke-led government collaborated with World Bank to rehabilitate Adire (local fabric) Skill Acquisition Centre For Persons Living With Disabilities.
The compassionate Governor who distributed medical material and mobility aids to the PLWD said he does not want them to live on the street begging, but instead to be economically independent.