86 retirees of Ilushin Estate Limited in Ogun Waterside Local Government area of Ogun State have been presented with about N100 million cheques as their retirement benefits.
Presenting the cheques at the rubber plantation, Ilushin, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, stated that the payment marked a new chapter in the Estate’s journey towards sustainable growth and development.
Owotomo, who doubles as the chairman of the company, noted that the company had planted 157 hectares of rubber out of the 240 hectares proposed for the year, while targeting between 450 and 500 hectares next year, adding that it was a major boost to agriculture and a significant step towards revitalising the production of rubber in the state, as government efforts at revitalising moribund companies were beginning to yield positive results.
He explained that company which had undergone restructuring, cleared all outstanding debts to banks, members of staff, customers and suppliers, as part of effort to reposition it for enhanced productivity.
“The era of owing staff salaries, tappers wages, retirement benefits has now indeed become a thing of the past”, he said.
In his remarks, the General Manager of the Estate, Otunba Olaitan Obisanya, applauded the Commissioner’s leadership role, vision and commitment which had positively impacted on the Estate and bringing it to an enviable position, assuring that the management would remain committed to staff welfare.
Responding on behalf of other retirees, Mr. Olugbenga Owogbo and Mrs. Queen Joshua, expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for the paradigm shift in the company and putting smiles on their faces.
