Oyelade affirmed that Oyo State pensioners earn more than their counterparts in any other state in the federation.
He applauded and praised Governor Seyi Makinde for consistently paying pension and gratuity without default since 2019.
“Pensioners in Oyo State are the envy of their colleagues in all other states of the federation,” Oyelade said. “Not only do they receive equal welfare attention as active civil servants from the Governor, but their pension and wages also rise commensurately with those of active government workers.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the 33% increase since 2010 was factored into their pension, according to governor Makinde.
He also said that the 2019 consequential adjustment that had previously excluded pensioners.
“As of today, no pensioner in Oyo State earns less than ₦25,000,” Oyelade stated. “Some of them were earning as little as ₦1,000 or less during past administrations. What’s more,it doesn't take ages before their salaries are been paid as was the tradition before 2019; indeed, they are paid on the same day with over 130,000 government workers.”
Oyelade recalled that in September last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC), a Federal Government agency, placed Oyo State in the category of most worker-friendly state.
“As we speak, Governor Makinde has committed up to ₦1 billion monthly to offset the backlog of gratuities and has reduced the deficit from previous administrations, spanning 2008 to 2016,” Oyelade emphasized.
“The Governor earmarked ₦500 million monthly to settle gratuities owed by the previous administration and another ₦500 million for the gratuity of those who retired during his own administration, starting from 2019. As a matter of fact, Governor Makinde’s era brought a total end to the payment of 30 percent pension, which pensioners had endured under the previous administration.”
The commissioner added that, all things being equal, the Governor pledged to settle the over ₦200 billion backlog of unpaid gratuities from past administrations before he leaves office .