Gov Adeleke Presents 2.1b Bond Certificates To Osun Retirees, Discloses Plans To Enroll Them In Health Insurance Scheme

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has disclosed plans to enroll retirees in the state in the health insurance scheme noting that this would be done to ease things for them in respect of their health care needs.

‘We are experimenting with various options that can reduce the cost of survival for pensioners. We are working to enroll pensioners in the state health insurance scheme. This is a line we are exploring to meet the health cost of our pensioners. We are still working on the details but we are optimistic, it will be a huge step forward for our senior citizens. 

I therefore appeal to pensioners of all categories that we have them in mind. We are determined to satisfy their aspirations and make life more enjoyable for them’ the governor submitted while giving his speech during the presentation ceremony of bond certificates to contributory pensioners in the state at the Local Government Service Commission building, Osogbo on Thursday.

Noting that the decision to put worker’s welfare as number one on his governance agenda was deliberate, he has also promised to continue to prioritize the interests of the retirees while announcing the new set of beneficiaries.

‘Despite the weak funding base of the state, we launched out in pursuance of our electoral pledge. Under a very tight financial regime, we are addressing outstanding pension and salary debt. We are gradually clearing outstanding arrears owed workers, in and out of service.

The template for payment that our government issued early this year is still very much in force. We are following it religiously. Even when paucity of funds threatened implementation, I insisted we must act to satisfy our senior citizens who are suffering in retirement. 

Permit me to reassure our senior citizens that we are not and will never play politics with their welfare. I invite them to note that the economic mess we met on ground was deeper than anybody can imagine. The state purse was almost in the red with very harsh deductions and repayment. 

Our fathers and mothers, your state was run aground. Your government which is barely eight months old is working tirelessly to rebuild we are recharging to address your interests and that of the populace.

Since my assumption of office, I have demonstrated the deepest passion to serve public interest, young and old. We are sacrificing, cutting cost and denying ourselves of many gains of office. The reason, before man and God, is my desire to clear the avoidable mess the former government left behind.

Today, we are gathered here for another piece of good news. While by July ending we paid another batch of half salary debt, today it is the turn of contributory pensioners to smile.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL

Between November, 2022 and before today’s programme, a sum of N7,329,225,294.74 have been released for payment of pensions, gratuity and accrued rights benefits for local government and primary school retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme

Today, bond certificates worth N1,242,927,554.31 will be released to the same set of workers. Thus from the inception of the administration to date, a total of N8,572,152,849.05 has been released.

STATE LEVEL

Between November, 2022 and before today’s programme, a sum of N4,088,006,280.43 had been released for payment of gratuity and accrued rights benefits of retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, secondary and tertiary institutions. This is apart from about N3.6bn committed to the payment of pension from December, 2022 to date.  

For retirees at the State level under the Contributory Pension Scheme, bond certificates worth N836,823,243.00 are to be distributed to them today. Thus, commitment of government to the payment of gratuity and accrued rights benefits of retirees at the state level under the CPS to date is N4,924,829,243.00.

The total we are handing out today is N2.1billion’ he added-Team@orientactualmags.com
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