MAPOLY retirees urge swift judicial action over pension dispute

Retirees of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) are urging swift judicial action in their ongoing lawsuit against the Ogun State Government over alleged pension discrepancies.

The retirees, represented by the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Retirees Forum, reiterated their plea at a press conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Alhaji Taiwo Otunba, Chairman of the forum, highlighted the retirees’ frustrations since their retirement in 2011, emphasizing discrepancies in pension payments.

He cited the disparity between the CONPCASS/CONTEDIS salary structure used during their service and the older CONTIS structure applied to their pensions.

Efforts to address the issue, including legal action initiated in May 2023, have yielded limited results. Despite promises of an out-of-court settlement by the state government during a tripartite meeting in December 2023, the retirees claim that the government failed to fulfil its commitments.

The retirees’ lawyer, Lukman Abdullahi, refuted allegations of compromise but welcomed the retirees to withdraw the case if they doubted his integrity.

With many retirees facing financial struggles and advanced age, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The retirees emphasized the need for expedited court proceedings to ensure they receive their rightful entitlements before more lives are lost in the struggle.

The forum’s chairman led 54 other retirees to the conference, underscoring the widespread impact of the pension dispute among the ageing population.