By Ayodele Abere
The Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Pensioners, Comrade Babatunde Augustine Adelugba, and other aggrieved pensioners in the State have called for re-election of the former Chairman of the Union, Comrade Joel Akinola for Second term.
The call was made at a press conference by concerned members of the union on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
Comrade Adelugba explained that the election of the union which ought to have been held on 28th of November, 2024, was put on hold due the allegation of funds mismanagement levied against the former exco, which necessitated the constitution of a committee by the National Body to man the affairs of the union.
Challenging the report of the committee set up by the National Body to investigate the financial status of Akinola-led administration which indicted other executive members under his leadership, they maintained that the press conference was organised to let people know that they don’t support the report which they described as kangaroo.
According to Comrade Adelugba, “at today’s meeting, the Caretaker Committee Chairman came out to read the report claiming that the directive from the National body was that the contents of the report should not be debated, that the covering letter has spoken and that they are going to comply with it.
“To us, the people indicted in that report which includes; the immediate past Chairman, Comrade Joel Akinola, immediate past Vice Chairman, Mr Olawunmi Owoeye, former State Treasurer, Mr Olowojebu, immediate past First trustee, Mr Olayemi Oluropo, and former State Auditor, Mr Olakunle Ogunlusi, were not given fair hearing.
“Out of the sixteen Local Governments in the State, ten solid branch Chairmen of NUP with all the Chairmen of parastatals, including the local government and primary schools Pensioners are solidly behind the administration of Comrade Joel Akinola”
Stressing that all the allegations levied against him and his team were false and mere falacy because there was a sort of disagreement between him and his secretary.
Also, the Chairman of Efon Local Government, Elder Idowu Michael stated that the report ought to have been presented to the members for it to be deliberated upon.
Other issue raised while addressing the press was that, the constitution mandated the union to employ a paid secretary and that they don’t expect that a pensioner should be employed as a paid secretary.
Comrade Adelugba said the Secretary, Comrade Agbaje Azeez Oni, who is also a Pensioner was employed on grade level 9 and that he has risen to level 14 by now. Is he going to retire again for the second time? He queried.
“He has been employed as a permanent paid secretary. He spent eight years with Baba Ayo Ikumapayi and he has also spent four years with Comrade Joel Akinola, and he is still there now as the Secretary”. The pensioners said they don’t have confidence in him anymore.
Calling for an independent body to investigate the matter, they all agreed that the pensioners in the State would boycott any election if the wrongly alleged members are not allowed to contest.
