One Yorùbá apigram states: Òógùn aláàrúù kìí gbe which means in English thus: the financial entitlement of a labourer should not be delayed.
The unfair attitude of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) towards delaying the payment of retirees of both their federal gratuity and monthly stipends pushed me to write the piece.
It is unfortunate after successful, hectic and meritorious years in service, some retirees are yet to be paid their entitlements. This has made many of them to live in misery and wretchedness.
As a result of overthinking, some have developed some sort of ailments. Catering for the needs of the household remains a punishment for them. Majority have resorted to farming in order to survive instead of having a rest. Herculean job after service.
Frankly, the hesitation of PTAD to efficiently perform their responsibility is foul-smelling, reprehensible, and uncalled-for and it causes concern. And one could only think they aren’t sensitive to the plight of the senior citizens.
According to an investigation, a letter was sent from the PTAD office through a private mail box to some retirees intimating them they are not entitled to receive the federal gratuity and monthly stipends whereas some of their contemporaries have gleefully received theirs. What does this mean?
All bids to reach the ministry in charge were to no avail as all the calls put to the phone of the complaint quarters were left unpicked
In my view, I envisage that non-payment of these stipends to eligible individuals is likely to be a result of corrupt practices. It may not be unfounded that some funds, perhaps, are been siphoned illicitly.
It is in this country we have heard how salaries or stipends of the dead unscrupulously collected by the cretins at the corridor of power which I believe the repercussion awaits them all.
Consequently. I appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a committee that will look into the matter in PTAD, with a view to finding an urgent solution before aggrieved Nigerians begin to tag the Buhari administration otherwise.
Also, the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, should be conscious of the happenings in her office because any anomaly noticed will be laid squarely on her desk.
Don’t let the retirees’ labour be in vain, give them their entitlements.
Sunday Inaolaji,
Ogbomoso, Oyo state