Ogun State Government has handed over cheques of N100m retirement benefits to 86 retirees of the Ilushin Estate Limited in Ogun Waterside Local Government area of the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, according to a statement released on Thursday, presented the cheques to the beneficiaries at the rubber plantation, Ilushin.
Owotomo stated that the payment marked a new chapter in the Estate’s journey toward sustainable growth and development.
The commissioner who doubles as the chairman of the company, said, “This company has planted 157 hectares of rubber out of the 240 hectares proposed for the year, and we are targeting between 450 and 500 hectares next year.
“This is no doubt a major boost to agriculture and a significant step towards revitalising the production of rubber in the state. This also confirms that the government’s efforts at revitalising moribund companies are beginning to yield positive results.
“The payment of our 86 retirees is also a good pointer to the fact that things are getting better for this company and that the era of owing staff salaries, tappers wages, retirement benefits has now indeed become a thing of the past”.
He explained that the company which had undergone restructuring, cleared all outstanding debts to banks, members of staff, customers, and suppliers, as part of an effort to reposition it for enhanced productivity
The General Manager of the Estate, Olaitan Obisanya, applauded the commissioner’s leadership role, vision, and commitment which had positively impacted the Estate and brought it to an enviable position.
Obisanya assured that the management would remain committed to staff welfare and ensure that the company continues to make further progress.
Responding on behalf of other retirees, Olugbenga Owogbo and Mrs. Queen Joshua, expressed gratitude to the commissioner for the turnaround in the company and for putting smiles on the faces of those who had toiled for the state through the company.
