Ex Political Office Holders Protest Non Payment Of N2.9bn Debt By Gov Amosun

 

Former political office holders in Ogun State between 2007 and 2011, on Thursday protested against the non- payment of their severance allowance, estimated at N2.9bn.They also said 22 of their colleagues had died while waiting for the severance package allowance.With a membership of not less than 600, they served under the administration of the past governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.The former government officials, who... served both in the local governments and state leve, said the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had paid only N300m out of the sum to 103 out of 750 officials.Speaking on behalf the ex-political appointees, the Secretary of the forum, Mr. Jamiu Keshinro, said after the governor had publicly paid N300m on June 24 to the first batch of 103 officials, he had yet to pay others.He explained that the forum had sent representatives to the state government in August on the need for it to expedite action on the payment but nothing had come out of it.He added that the governor had promised them after the first tranche was paid, that the others would be paid every two weeks.He said, “Because the governor has failed to fulfill his promise to us, we have no choice than to let the whole world know that we have not been paid, because most people thought we have been paid.“We are now using this medium to appeal to the governor to quickly come to our aid and pay us our severance allowance without further delay.“Sadly enough, 22 of us are already dead due to one ailment or another and many are also seriously ill.“From the record available to us, the total amount payable to both the state and the local governments ex-political functionaries, who served between 2007 and 2011, is N2.9bn. Out of this amount, N300m has been paid to just 103 beneficiaries.”...