Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in Oyo State, Engr Akinwale Laosun on Wednesday congratulated the retired primary school teachers and local government workers on the ‘divine intervention’ that led to the release of the part payment of the pension and gratuity.
Laosun also commiserated with the umbrella body of retired teachers in primary schools as well as local government workers retirees on the loss of their members who had died in the struggle to ensure they get their entitlements from government while alive.
While wondering the rationale behind the payment of the money by the APC led government few days to the governorship and house of assembly elections, Laosun noted that the pressures, pleas and persuasions of the senior citizens had over the years fell on the deaf ears of the present administration, alleging that it is the true nature of the APC led government to punish and traumatize those who had labored and served the state since their youthful days.
He urged the people not to fall for the antics of the government who suddenly turned ‘good’ just to deceive the people to forcibly retain power in the coming election, adding that the people are indeed wiser and know better.
According to the AAC chieftain, Laosun, who spoke through his Akinwale Omololu Laosun Campaign Organisation (AOL), prompt payment of salaries, pension and gratuity is core to his vision goal for Oyo State workers having noticed that all political administration that had ruled the state since the present political dispensation shares in common, tactics and schemes aimed at pauperising and tormenting people, just for them to retain power.
“Payment of gratuity, pensions and such other workers entitlements happens to be one of the promises we have made to the retired primary school teachers and other workers generally. As much as it is a welcome development, I wonder why it took the government, ALGON and the committee so long to come to this decision.
“Is this a ploy by the current government to lure and cajole the retirees and pensioners who have been depressed and oppressed by the current administration in voting for them come Saturday, March 9?
“All together, my stand remains that when I am voted in as the next Executive Governor of Oyo State, I will make sure that no worker is owed any salary and that all gratuities and pensioners arrears are cleared within the first year of office.
“Finally, we have had sixteen years of PDP and APC government in our state that have maltreated those who have served the State with their strength and unfortunately have been oppressed by the same government they served when they in turn need to be supported.
“This is an opportunity to decide how we want to spend the next 4 years of our lives, and it is certainly obvious that the two parties who have administered the state resources over the last sixteen years have failed the workers and the residents of the State.
“My advice to all registered voters this Saturday, March 9, 2019 is to vote a new party into government and I will conclude that AAC is the choice of the masses”, he said.
