•demand immediate restoration to payroll, payment of outstanding entitlements
By David Oluokun
Over 300 retired staff members of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) have appealed to the Oyo State Government to urgently address the alleged non-payment of their pensions for three months, describing their continued exclusion from the payroll as a source of severe hardship.
The retirees, who lamented their inability to access their monthly pension entitlements for the period under review, called on Governor Seyi Makinde, the management of BCOS and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure the immediate payment of the outstanding arrears.
According to the aggrieved pensioners, their removal from the payroll has left many of them struggling to meet basic financial obligations, particularly against the backdrop of rising living costs, mounting medical expenses and other family responsibilities.
They maintained that having devoted several years of their productive lives to the service of Oyo State, they deserved to enjoy their retirement benefits without unnecessary delays or administrative complications.
The retirees also questioned the rationale behind the continued non-payment of their pensions, alleging that the corporation receives a monthly subvention of N60 million and generates about N20 million in internally generated revenue (IGR).
They argued that the alleged availability of these funds should warrant an explanation for the continued delay in settling their pension obligations, urging the appropriate authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding their removal from the payroll and the non-payment of their entitlements.
They further appealed to the state government not to allow their years of meritorious service to end in financial distress, insisting that the payment of pensions should be treated as a responsibility rather than a privilege.
The aggrieved retirees also warned that their plight could become an issue of public concern ahead of the forthcoming elections, noting that residents of the state would take developments concerning the welfare of retired workers into consideration.
They, therefore, urged Governor Makinde, the BCOS management and relevant government agencies to take immediate steps to restore affected pensioners to the payroll and clear the three months’ outstanding payments.
The retirees reiterated their demand for prompt intervention, declaring: “Pay our pensions. We served Oyo State and deserve to live with dignity after retirement.”