The Oyo State Government has raised the alarm over a group of individuals posing as government officials to extort money from retirees under the guise of fast-tracking the payment of gratuities.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the group as “unscrupulous elements” operating within the civil service and assured that the government was closing in on them.
According to Oyelade, some retired civil and public servants are being asked to pay between five and 10 per cent of their gratuities to the cartel to hasten payment. He noted that the illegal practice had persisted for several years, even before the current administration.
He said the government had intensified due diligence in gratuity payments and significantly improved the process. With increased monthly allocations, over 800 retirees now benefit each month, compared to about 250 beneficiaries in previous years.
Oyelade stressed that the administration has increased monthly gratuity payments by 200 per cent, raising allocations from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, adding that there is no justification for any backdoor payments.
While acknowledging complaints from some retirees who are yet to receive gratuities from earlier years, the commissioner explained that arrears from 2011 to 2016 had been cleared, and gratuities for those who retired from 2019 to date were being addressed through the approved monthly disbursement system.
He urged retirees to ignore anyone demanding money for gratuity processing and to report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities, noting that the illegal practice also affects local government pensioners.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency in pension administration and assured retirees that gratuities would be paid strictly according to the established procedures.
Post comments (0)