Details have emerged on the true state of payment for pensioners in the State of Osun, showing that senior citizens in the state have received their monthly entitlements up till December 2016. This is contrary to the claims of a curious group that claimed that it was out to get the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Prince Rotimi Adelugba, Chairman of Triangular Pensioners Association of Osun, stated that pensioners in the state has been paid up till December 2016, just like the state government said. He further  explained that “Osun State is still paying according to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between Labour and the Government. Imo State is owing 72 months”.

 
 
About the protesting pensioners, Prince Adelugba said without mincing words that he believed they were being sponsored. ” Osun State is a peaceful state, so I don’t understand why some people will go on rampage. At least by December last year, we collected three months. Then in late December, we collected the December pension as agreed upon”, he said.

It would be recalled that at the last Pensioners prayer meeting and medical checkup held at the recently renovated Freedom Park Osogbo, pensioners appreciated governor Rauf Aregbesola for the payment of their pensions in December and called on him to pay their outstanding gratuities.
A handful however formed a group and raised a banner that the group claimed was ‘Osun IDP Camp’. This, the group claimed was to “expose Governor Aregbesola”.
Other individuals have also condemned the group as fraudulent and revealed it’s leaders as a former judge who was sacked and the leader of a ” rogue CSO who is under investigation by the EFCC”.
Indigenes of the state such as, Demola Dekunle also debunked the group’s antics, explaining that his retired parent was paid till December 2016. In a comment made on an online news site, Demola called the story a fraud, stating that  “Punch displayed IDP canopy wit (sic) less 20 people. Osun has over 10,000 retirees, my father, Mr. Yaya Kasali Adebayo, inclusive, who got N161,000 among the least, for Sept, Oct, Nov & Dec. less than 2wks ago. Level 1-7 got full pay; 8-10 got 75%; and 12 above got 50% like those who are still in the service. This kind of crass negative political propagandum does not merit Punch edification”.

At the prayer meeting, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in the state, Comrade Omoniyi Ilesanmi alleged the state government owed the retired workers half of their pension between July 2014 and December, 2016. This would apply to pensioners who retired on Level 12 and above and the payment arrangement was for them to get 50% while levels 8-10 got 75% and Levels 1-7 got their full payments.
Osun Defender recalls Governor Aregbesola had in a statement last week, stated the sum of N14.2bn was used to clear staff salaries and pensions arrears for September 2016 to December 2016.

The Government of Osun on Tuesday described as another propaganda against the Rauf Aregbesola administration, the claims that some pensioners have set up a camp purposely for those calling themselves “Internally Displaced Pensioners.”
The government, through a statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, which was signed by its Director, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said if indeed, any camp was set up, it could not be for demand for payment of any pensions.
The Bureau stated, “Our attention has been dotograph of some pers display of photograph of some persons who claim to be pensioners in Osun who have dubiously grouped themselves “Internally Displaced Pensioners” and claimed to have set up an “IDP” camp in the state capital, Osogbo.
“To us, this is taking the joke too far. There should be limit to campaigns of calumny and deliberate fabrications of emotive conditions all in desperation to diminish the achievements of a government.
“It was common knowledge that the State of Osun ended the Year 2016 in the most financially boisterous mood ever with the payment of four months salaries to active workers and pensions to the passive workers.”
The Bureau said for the purpose of record, “pensioners on N1,000 -N20,000 collected 100% pensions; Those on N20,001 -N80,000 collected N75% pensions and that pensioners on N80,001 collect 50% of their pensions.
By our calculations, Osun state pensioners alone got at least, N1,539,227,442.75 out of the N14.2billion paid to active and passive workers in the last two weeks as arrears of 4 months salaries and pensions excluding what the local government pensioners were paid for the same period.”
The statement asked discerning Nigerians to see this mischief as part of the determination of some disgruntled elements and their media partner who are bent on deliberate fabrication of falsehood against this government.
“Without celebrating the failings of other places, the Osun government today is prominent among the states that have taken payment of pensions as a priority. It is therefore pertinent to ask these people what are there grouse against Governor Rauf Aregbesola. It certainly cannot be their pensions,” it added
It explained further that in 2015, Osun committed a total of N5,426,720,195.68 to payment of pensions in spite of the very difficult financial stress the state found itself.
“In 2016, the state also committed a total of N3,981,312,918.78 to payment of pensions. These are facts and figures that are in public domain.” it stated
The statement said less than 24 hours after the display of the photographs and the claim to have set up the camp, there are no traces of any camp at the Freedom Park Osogbo or anywhere in the state capital.
“This, to us, confirms the fact that the mischief makers have merely orchestrated a stunt. But discerning Nigerians can see already that this is a mere propaganda.” it said.
The statement added that Aregbesola has demonstrated unbeatable display of transparency in public administration.
“This government has given meaning to good governance. History will definitely be there to judge with Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s commitment to the good of the people,” it concluded.

Young farmers club among school students and pupils is a good initiative that will arouse the interest of the younger generation to engage in agricultural practices that would boost food production in the state.
Prince Wale Adedoyin, former Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, stated this during an Agricultural fair organised by the out-going members of the Voluntary Services Oversees (VSO) at Igangan Community Middle/High School in Atakumosa East Local Government area of the State of Osun.
Prince Wale Adedoyin maintained that Igangan community young farmers club has demonstrated a good example of farming knowledge at a tender age which is worth of emulation by other schools in the State.
Prince Adedoyin who also commissioned Igangan Community Young Farmers Club Demonstration Farm, that contains different variety of vegetables like Carrot, Cucumber, Okra, Pumpkin, Water-leaf Tomatoes among others admonished the students to embrace agriculture as a means to self reliance and economic buoyance.
He also appreciated the initiators of the Young Farmers Club in Igangan Town for their selfless service to improve the life of rural dwellers. Prince Adedoyin further disclosed that, members of the Voluntary Services Oversees (VSO) are well to do people from United Kingdom (UK) and America who just have passion to change the life of
others.
Prince Adedoyin noted that all benefits coming to the state of Osun was made possible as a result of the relative peace in the state and the adequate support which Ogbeni Aregbesola administration gives to Agricultural development in the State of Osun.
Also speaking, the Principal of Igangan Community Middle/High School, Mr. Orisajinmi Lekan Raphael also attested to the positive impact of the Volunteers in the School and Igangan Community at large.
Mr. Orisajinmi pointed out that, the volunteers donated many books in different subjects and assisted in teaching the Students

In continuation of the appearance and submission of academic qualification of staff on GL 02-10 in the service of the State of Osun, the Bureau of Environment and Sanitation, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism & Culture, Local Government Service Commission, OSADEP, Osun
State Agency for Control of Aids & HIV (OSACA) are expected to appear for the screening exercise tomorrow morning (Tuesday 10th January, 2017).
This is in line with the circular letter issued by the Permanent Secretary, State of Osun Civil Service Commission. According to the circular letter, it will be the turn of the Office of Transportation, Osun Road Maintenance Agency, Office of Higher Education, Bursary and Scholarship, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy, Water Resources, Rural & Community Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment on Wednesday 11th of January, 2017.
All affected officers are enjoined to appear at the Civil Service Commission Office, along Gbongan/Ibadan Road, Osogbo by 10am.

The State Government of Osun has warned some inhabitants of the state who have started building homes very close and within the Right of Way along Orisumbare Market to Oja-Oba in Osogbo to stop such an act henceforth.
 
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, Engr. Nurudeen Adeagbo dropped this hint while speaking in his office.
According to him, in as much as the state government appreciates such developments, it will not tolerate a breach of the law by allowing people to contravene the prescribed 30metres setback from the centre of the road in accordance with the Highway Manual of the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing.
Engr. Adeagbo posited that, it is already in the plan of the state government to develop the road into a dual carriage- way in the nearest future, adding that government will not allow such people to jeopardize its landmark intention.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that, any developer or owner of such building that falls within the Statutory Right of Way of 30metres from the centre of the road both left and right will not be compensated by the state government.
In addition, such owner will be sanctioned for contravening the law after the building or property would have been separated.