By Ismaeel Uthman
Following the release of N1.2bn by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun for the payment of pensions and gratuities, the state government had on Monday begun the issuance of cheques to 2006 pensioners who retired from the state civil service in 2011/2012.
The cheques were handed over to the pensioners by the Head of Service, Mr Festus Olowogboyega and other government officials at the state Secretariat, Abere.
According to Olowogboyega, a total of 2006 pensioners that retired from Ministries, Departments, Agencies and parastatals have been listed for the payment of the pension.
Olowogboyega explained that the cheques were being given to every pensioner who had perfected retirement documents with the government.
He added that for any of the pensioners that have died, his or her next of kin would have to present documents like death certificate, letter of administration and other necessary papers to the government for collection of the cheques.
The HOS commended Governor Aregbesola for providing the whooping sum of N1.2bn to pay pensioners despite the paucity of funds in the state, describing him as a people-friendly governor.
It would be recalled that Aregbesola had last week approved the release of N1 billion for the payment of pension to retired civil servants in the state while a sum of 200 million was provided to pay gratuity to those who retired ahead of the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme. .
The governor had also directed the release of an additional N150m which will be disbursed to more pensioners soon.
