The Oyo State government has advised pensioners against falling victims to scammers impersonating government officials during the gratuity payment process.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, shared this information in a press release in Ibadan, cautioning that vulnerable retirees are being exploited by criminal groups operating within the system.
Oyelade emphasized that the current administration is committed to “due diligence” in processing gratuity payments, asserting that the current system is more transparent and efficient compared to previous administrations.
He mentioned that “a cartel has been functioning within the civil service, and the government is working to identify these criminals.”
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The commissioner explained that retired civil and public servants are being pressured to pay between five and ten percent of their gratuities to these groups to expedite their payments.
He described this practice as a long-standing issue, stating that “this problem has persisted for years, even during the administration of former Governor Lam Adesina, and continues to affect unsuspecting pensioners today.”
Oyelade noted that “those involved in the extortion and their accomplices are familiar with one another,” and expressed concern that despite repeated warnings, some retirees still fall prey to these schemes.
He added that the alleged extortion affects both state and local government pensioners.
