Ogun: Achudume urges govt to prioritise retired civil servants pay

By Our Correspondent 

The Lead Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church, Apostle Lawrence Achudume has called on government both at the State and Federal level to prioritise the payment of pension and gratuities of retired public servants to reduce corruption in the Country.

Apostle Achudume who spoke while delivering his sermon at a Church service held to commemorate the 60th birthday and retirement celebrations of Evangelist (Mrs) Mopelola Felicia Ogundiran, held at the VLBC, Olomore, Abeokuta on Tuesday said government can only fight corruption successfully when it takes care of the senior citizens that have meritoriously served the nation.

The cleric bemoaned a situation where retired civil servants will not receive their gratuities for years, thereby creating an avenue for those that have access to public funds to illegally divert it for their selfish needs.

His words "non-payment of gratuities to retirees for several years had led to the untimely death of many of them due to hardship.

“My appeal to government is that they should consider payment of gratuities to retirees to mitigate the current hardship being faced by these heroes and heroines who had laboured for the state and the country and to quicken the war against corruption that the government is fighting.

“Many of them have died as a result of hardship without enjoying the fruit of their labour, while many others can no longer send their children to school".

Those that have access to public funds are corruptly taking them with the belief that it will help them secure their future when they retire, not knowing that it is only God's blessings that sustain human.

He charged the newly retired Evangelist Ogundiran to continue to serve God as He alone is the sustainer of those who loved him.

When you praise and thank the Lord for those things He had done and those things He will do, He will continue to provide for you, even if government pension and gratuities are not forthcoming.

Earlier, the newly retired Evangelist Mrs Mopelola Felicia Ogundiran while appreciating God for the mercy and Grace to gloriously retire from Ogun State Teaching Service, said while working she had always believe in the supremacy of God above all earthly things.

The church service was attended by the celebrant hubby, Pastor Ogundiran, Pastor Mrs Folu Achudume and many others.