By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo state government has said it is aware of the cartel claiming to be government officials extorting pensioners in the state to fast-track payments of their gratuity.
The government who described the individuals as “unscrupulous elements”, however assured that it is already narrowing down on them.
To arrest the situation, the government said it is paying due diligence to the payment of the gratuities for its retirees more than the previous administrations.
When contacted on how retirees are being made to part ways with certain percentages of their money in the guise of helping to fast-track the payment of the gratuities, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade explained that the cartel has been operating within the civil service but that government is narrowing down on them.
He confirmed investigation, saying retired civil and public servants are being asked to pay 5% to 10% of their gratuities to these cartels to fast-track payments.
Oyelade lamented that the malpractice has been unfortunately longstanding, adding that the issue has persisted over the years, even during the tenure of former governor, Lam Adesina, and has continued to affect unsuspecting pensioners till date.
He stressd that despite repeated warnings to pensioners to be cautious, some still fall victims to the schemes, noting that those behind the extortions and their accomplices know themselves.
Oyelade said, “The attention of the Oyo State government has been drawn to the allegations that some pensioners in the state are being extorted by unscrupulous elements claiming to be government officials.
“The state is paying due diligence to the payment of the gratuities for its retirees more than the previous administrations.
“With the new monthly allocation, over 800 retirees will benefit each month, compared to just 250 beneficiaries in previous years.
“A cartel has been operating within the civil service and government is narrowing down on the criminals.
“Retired civil and public servants are being asked to pay 5% to 10% of their gratuities to these cartels to fast-track payments.
“This malpractice is unfortunately longstanding. The issue has persisted over the years, even during the tenure of former governor, His Excellency Lam Adesina, and continues to affect unsuspecting pensioners till today” he said.
“Those behind the extortions and their accomplices know themselves. Despite repeated warnings to pensioners to be cautious, some still fall victims to these schemes.”
Some retirees informed The Nation that the state government is yet to settle retirees their gratuities from 2014 till 2018.
Sources also said gratuities have been paid to those who retired since the beginning of the present administration (2019 till date).
But some retirees however alleged that only those who could part with between 5% to 10% of their gratuities have been settled with some others stating otherwise.
The Nation gathered that those yet to be paid included: Doctors, nurses, core civil servants, public servants, teachers, principals etc.
The retirees alleged that a cartel is operating in the civil service at the state secretariat who front for top officers to look for those ready to part with 5% -10 % of their gratuity, but they commended the governor for paying the monthly pension dues regularly.
Reacting, Prince Oyelade said that the illegal practices are not limited to state pensions but also affect local government staff pensioners.
While highlighting government efforts to improve pension disbursement, the Commissioner recalled that gratuities were not paid between 2011–2016 until the arrears were cleared by Governor Makinde.
He added that Governor Makinde has increased monthly gratuity release by 200 percent, raising total allocations from N1 billion to N3 billion monthly.
Oyelade said with the increase in allocation for the payment of gratuity, there was no back-door payment is required for the processing of gratuities or entitlements, urging retirees to follow the established system of monthly disbursement and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
“These illegal practices are not limited to state pensions but also affect local government staff pensioners.
“The government is making efforts to improve pension disbursement. Gratuities were not paid between 2011–2016 until the arrears were cleared by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“He has increased monthly gratuity release by 200 percent, raising total allocations from N1 billion to N3 billion monthly; hence, no back-door payment is required for the processing of gratuities or entitlements.
“We urge retirees to follow the established system of monthly disbursement and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities”, Prince Oyelade added.
