Pensioners in Oyo State have commended the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration for the payment of pensions and gratuities in the State.
The Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Segun Abatan, stated that no administration in the State, since 1999, has paid as much in pensions and gratuities as the administration in the past 19 months.
Abatan disclosed this on Monday, during the event of presentation of cheques to about 400 retired primary school teachers of the year 2012 and retired local government staff of the year 2015, to the tune of N1.05billion, held at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He ranked the Makinde government highest in payment of pensions and gratuities with its payment of about N6billion to retired primary school teachers and local government workers, and another N6billion to retired workers at the State level.
The Secretary noted that the NUP was also gladdened with assurances that the Makinde government would not only clear the backlog but also attend to recently retired workers.
Abatan said, “If you factor in about N6billion that this amiable Governor has given retired primary school teachers and local government workers and add to what he has been paying State pensioners, that is more than N12billion paid in less than two years. Seyi Makinde has paid more pensions and gratuities than all the governments since 1999 that we entered this pseudo-Fourth Republic.”
The presentation of gratuity cheques to the 400 retirees brings to 3,043 the number of such beneficiaries since September 2019 with a total of N5.92 billion paid.
In his remarks, the pioneer Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Oyo State, Prince Bayo Adeyemi, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of their gratuities for the benefit of their loved ones, and avail themselves of the services of trusted professionals and business experts on how best to invest their money.
The Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Adeyemi Ayodele, also admonished the beneficiaries to wisely spend their money on worthwhile projects and personal needs.
Recipients such as Mr. Ismaila Badmus, Mrs. Oladokun Sikeola, Mrs. Ogundairo Mariam, Mrs. Margaret Akinyemi and Mrs. Solademi Comfort, expressed gladness that the Makinde government had continued to put smiles on the faces of several retirees.
Nnenna.O
