'We survive on N8,000 monthly,' Ondo poly retirees cry out
…lament over N3bn unpaid gratuities Retirees of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, have decried their worsening living conditions, revealing that many now survive on as little as N8,000
…lament over N3bn unpaid gratuities
- From Tosin Tope, Akure
Retirees of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, have decried their worsening living conditions, revealing that many now survive on as little as N8,000 monthly pension.
The pensioners, who spoke on Thursday at a briefing in Owo, described their situation as unbearable amid rising inflation and the high cost of living.
They said the stipends fall far short of meeting basic needs, including food, healthcare, and housing.
Mr. Olufawoye Oluwole, Chairman of the Association of Retired Staff of the Polytechnic, spoke on behalf of the retirees and said many pensioners had died without accessing their entitlements.
According to Oluwole, efforts to secure payment of pensions and gratuities since 2007 have yielded no results.
"It is unfair that some retirees are yet to be enrolled in monthly pensions years after retirement. Many of our members survive on less than N8,000, yet they still have dependants," he said.
Oluwole added that the retirees had explored several channels, including appeals to government officials, traditional rulers, and religious leaders, but without success.
"At this stage, we have resorted to prayers. We could have taken to the streets, but we chose not to embarrass the government or the institution we served," he said.
Oluwole also stressed that workers who served between 30 and 35 years deserved prompt payment of their gratuities, describing the delay as unjust.
He disclosed that outstanding gratuities, initially put at about N500 million, have risen to over N3 billion due to years of accumulation, stressing that both the state and the institution’s management have failed to address the crisis.
"The government claims it pays subvention meant to cover salaries, pensions, and gratuities, but what is released is insufficient even for salaries," Oluwole queried.
He also lamented their exclusion from federal interventions, including the new minimum wage and the N10,000 palliative for vulnerable Nigerians, adding that arrears from a 2009 minimum wage adjustment remain unpaid.
Read Also: Why I want to be Benue’s next governor, by Aondoakaa
Oluwole recalled that previous appeals, including letters sent in 2020 to relevant authorities, failed to yield results.
The retirees, however, appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently intervene by releasing funds to clear the backlog or approve a structured payment plan.
Also speaking, a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Owo, Prophet G.O. Folajimi, described the development as "barbaric and uncalled for," urging the government to fulfill its obligations.
"These men have served for over three decades, and now they are suffering. Many are dying. Government must do the needful," he said.
The Chief Imam of Owo, Alhaji Yenusa Anoola, stressed the need for fairness and adherence to civil service rules.
"If someone has worked for 30 to 35 years, their rights should not be delayed like this. It is not fair. Justice must be established," he said.
