The Southwest Zone of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has said that pensioners in the Southwest geopolitical zone are owed N330 billion in pensions and gratuities by all states except Lagos State.
The NUP made the pronouncement at the conclusion of its zonal meeting in Ibadan on Wednesday.
At the conclusion of the conference, the spokesman, Dr. Olusegun Abatan, told reporters that Osun led the indebted states with N145 billion in unpaid pensions and gratuities.
According to him, Rauf Aregbesola’s term as governor of the state worsened the problem of unpaid pension arrears and gratuities in Osun.
He claimed that since Aregbesola departed the governor’s office, nothing had changed.
Abatan added that Ondo, Ogun, and Ekiti State owe, respectively, N58 billion, N55 billion, and N40 billion.
Before Governor Seyi Makinde took over office in May 2019, he explained that, Oyo State owed N43 billion.
Out of the N43 billion owed by his predecessors, Makinde had paid approximately N11 billion, he stated.
Lagos State was the first to adopt the Contributory Pension Scheme, according to Abatan, hence it did not fall within the umbrella of bankrupt states.
He went on to say that Lagos State’s pensioners were fortunate to have responsible leaders in the executive branch who take pensioners’ concerns seriously.
Recall that the union had ordered each NUP council to meet with its respective governor and find a way to minimize and clear the arrears, as well as, if necessary, take legal action.
Further, Abatan urged NUP members in the geographical region to exercise sound when casting their ballots in the upcoming general elections in 2023 and choose candidates who would work to address the problems facing retirees.
