The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo state, Mr Seyi Makinde, has charged the Federal Government and other tiers of government to ensure prompt and regular payment of gratuities and allowances of the retirees to stem the ugly trend of retirees dying on queues, while awaiting their entitlements.

Speaking during the send-forth ceremony organized for five of the staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), who retired, having meritoriously served the Federal Government for 35 years in their various capacities on Thursday,he congratulated the retirees on the successful retirement.

"Retirement period is a period of joy and celebration for workers who have given their all to the service of the organization they represented.

"However, the joy had always been turned to sorrow when the governments responsible fail to satisfy their part of the bargain through prompt payment of the gratuities and allowances due to the  retiring staff," he said.

Makinde, who was represented on the occasion by a former Speaker of the Oyo House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola, said. "this anomaly is going to be corrected, we have already been empowering widows and the jobless, including bursary awards to students of academic institutions so that life could be meaningful for them".

Also speaking, the Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ibadan, Mr Bola Agboola, stressed the importance of perseverance as a catalyst for successful retirement either in the civil service or private employment.  Speaking , he said it takes grace of God for one to retire successfully.

The Zonal Director, who congratulated the retirees for successfully disengaging from the service said that, "if anyone works for many years and retires successfully, in sound health, it takes the grace of God".

However, he emphasized that "attitude of perseverance plays a very major role in attaining such feat", noting that, "many 'die' on the way to their retirement because they would not have the perseverance to accommodate corrections, directives and instructions aimed at putting them on the right footing for future challenges".

Commending Ajisefini for the managerial acumen and Solomonic wisdom he has been employing to steer the affairs of the station, as well as the retirees for their various contributions to the growth and development of the station, Agboola said,

"You people have tried and assisted us in this station, thereby stabilizing it and making it an outstanding station that ranks top among other stations in the country.

"You have given us a relay baton which we must not allow to fall so that our development could continue to be unrivalled", he said.

The retirees honoured by the management of the Amuludun FM (Yoruba outfit of the FRCN in Ibadan), led by the General Manager Elder Adenrele Ajisefini, are Olajire Oladimeji, Adeola Oluwole, Wahab Ayinla, Wole Afolabi and Oyetunde Sadiq.