Three pensioners in Osun on Monday collapsed while participating in the ongoing staff audit exercise embarked upon by the State Government for its staff.
They collapsed while waiting for the arrival of the consultant in charge, Saadat Bakri-Ottun to commence the exercise.
It took the intervention of the health workers of the State Ambulance Service to revive and stabilise the aged pensioners.
The pensioners, old men and women who are visibly aged, frail and in some cases sick, had arrived at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, the venue of the exercise waiting for the take-off before the incident.
A number of them who could not withstand long time standing were seen either, lying down, sleeping or sitting on the bare floor.
Many of the pensioners were visibly angry for what they described as inhumane treatment by the handlers of the exercise.
One of the retirees, Samuel Aduroroja decried the arrangement and the eventual treatments of his colleagues who came for the exercise from across the State.
Though, he agreed that the exercise as sanctioned by the State government was desirable, but was of the opinion that the process would have been made easier if it were to be done on local government or zonal basis.
The NUP, had previously appealed to the State Government on the need to decentralise the exercise to make it easier for its members to access.
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Recall that the staff audit was earlier suspended for weeks by the state House of Assembly over the inhuman treatment meted out to the civil servants by the consultant, but the suspension was lifted after she promised to adjust the observed lapses.
Bedridden pensioners to partake via telephone – Osun Government
Meanwhile, the State Government has said all bedridden pensioners and others with serious health challenge will henceforth have their audit exercise conducted through telephone.
A statement signed by Oluimo Kolapo Alimi, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, disclosed that such pensioners, will no longer be required to be physically present at the venue of the screening exercise.
The statement reads: “Pensioners outside the state at the moment no longer need to travel down to Osun State as they will also be having their screening through the telephone.
“Additionally, pensioners in the diaspora will also be screened only through video calls.
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“In line with the above, the Pension Board is expected to make available all the particulars, especially pictures of pensioners to the Consultant, for ease of identification during the video call screenings.
“The above directives take immediate effect.”
