Adebayo Adenrele
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, on Saturday distributed gratuity cheques worth N3.5 billion to pensioners as they mark this year’s edition of Pensioners’ Day.
At the ceremony which was held at the Great Eagle Hall, Ikere Road, Ado Ekiti, over 500 pensioners benefitted from the latest tranche of payment with N2.3 billion gratuity paid to state pensioners while local government pensioners got N1.2 billion gratuity.
With the payment of gratuity to the latest batch of pensioners, Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to defraying of outstanding gratuity has seen the backlog cleared to March 2015 up from payment up to 2012 he met on assumption of office in October, 2022.
The gesture drew a deafening applause from the appreciative pensioners inside the hall who prayed for the Governor and expressed their readiness to keep him in office with their votes at the next governorship election describing him as a “pensioners-friendly Governor and “elders-friendly Governor.”
At the event, the retirees, through the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ekiti State Chapter, Mr. Joel Akinola, took time to reel out lots of goodies that pensioners have so far enjoyed from the Oyebanji Administration in the last two years.
Governor Oyebanji also assured on the readiness of his administration to commence the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 which he described as a law that must be obeyed. He however noted that a little delay is being experienced in the state owing to the need to capture pensioners, teachers, state workers and local government workers together.
The Governor said: “On the payment of your gratuity, I don’t think I have done anything spectacular. You are my parents and it is only a bastard that will not treat his parents well. My late mum died as a pensioner and my father who is at home is one of you.
“Whatever we are doing for you is not a favour, it’s your right because you worked for it. It is my desire that you are alive to collect your gratuity and every other entitlement that is due to you. Out of the three months arrears of local government pensioners, I have approved one month and we will deal with the remaining two months.
“As at date our administration had paid the sum of Five Billion, Four Hundred Million (N5,400,000,000) to One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Six (1,796) State Pensioners and the sum of Two Billion, One Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, One Hundred and Ten Thousand, forty Six Kobo (N2,179,110,000.46) to Eight Hundred and Ninety One (891) pensioners at the Local Government level.
“Today, I will be flagging off additional payment of Two Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira (N2.3b) to State Pensioners and One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (N1.2b) to Local Government Pensioners totalling Three Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N3.5b). This is another demonstration of our administration’s commitment to your welfare. I urge you to continuously pray for the success of this administration so that we shall continue to do more for you.”
“After we might have paid (the beneficiaries of today), the gratuity payment will reach March 2015. We will continue to pay gratuity to our pensioners. Your prayers over me are getting answered, the only thing I need from you is your prayer.”
The Governor hailed President Bola Tinubu for his support for Ekiti State in allowing the State to get what was due to it while he also commended the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, for offering quality advice on setting aside certain amount of money to enable the state clears more backlog of retirees’ entitlements.
While restating the commitment of his administration to regular payment of monthly pensions and offset of the backlog of arrears of gratuity, Governor Oyebanji also urged the pensioners to register under the State Health Insurance Scheme for them to have access to free health services at state-owned health centres.
He disclosed that only 9,028 out of 28,000 pensioners have so far registered under the State Health Insurance Scheme urging those yet to register to do so with their National Identity Numbers (NIN).
Speaking earlier, the state NUT chair, Mr. Akinola, commended Governor Oyebanji for according priority to the welfare of pensioners noting that the Ekiti helmsman has done so much for retirees.
He showered encomiums on the Governor for ensuring the payment of pension before the 25th of every month, clearing the arrears of pension he met on ground, ensuring payment of deductions previously withheld, approving a monthly special wage award of N10,000 in addition to normal monthly pension and food palliatives to pensioners, among others.
The state NUP boss who described the latest tranche of gratuity paid as “humongous” said the Governor by his numerous gestures “have covered the nakedness of pensioners in the state” saying the state’s number one citizen should be celebrated for caring for retirees.
The NUP National President, Godwin Abumhese, said Governor Oyebanji has set the pace for other Southwest governors in the area of pensioners’ welfare saying the national body is happy with him for his gestures.
Abumhese said the national leadership of NUP would pay the Ekiti Governor an appreciative visit noting that Oyebanji has fulfilled his electoral promise to accord priority to pensioners”