Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday disbursed another N2 billion gratuity cheques to retired workers, bidding farewell to days when retirees suffered unwarranted neglect due to lacklustre responses to the payments of their benefits.
The Governor said the gratuity payment covers 2017 for state workers and 2014 for their local government counterparts, assuring that his administration will continually treat and accord their welfare a topmost priority as elderstatesmen, who deserve care and attention.
Distributing the cheques to the beneficiaries, Governor Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, praised the pensioners for their solid backing for his administration, promising not to relent in ensuring speedy treatment of matters connected to their welfare and wellbeing .
He appreciated the retirees for their contributions to Ekiti during their active years in the service, saying history and posterity will continue to be kind to them as lovers of the state, who worked hard for its development in all spheres.
Oyebanji, who urged workers to massively troop out and vote for him in the June 20 governorship election, revealed that his government, had expended a whopping sum of N19 billion for payment of gratuities since 2022, while N65.3 billion was spent to offset arrears of monthly pensions and to pay up to date.
In a manner underscoring his fidelity to promise, Oyebanji stated that his government expended a sum of N3.8 billion to defray pension arrears covering July to September 2018 owed by the previous administrations.
“When I came on board, I promised to prioritise your welfare. As of today, the government has regularly been reducing the gratuities’ backlog. A total sum of N7.3b has been paid to local government pensioners , while the sum of N11.7b has been paid to state pensioners, making a total amount of N19 billion on gratuities.
“Since inception, monthly pensions have been paid regularly without delay. We do not owe any arrears. We have paid a sum of N31.7b to local government pensioners and N33.6b to state pensioners , totalling N65.3b for monthly pensions.
“I know that if we return, I will do better for you. I am not going to betray you. On election day, troop out and vote for us to realise this second term ambition, so that all these good incentives you are enjoying can continue.
“Before, there were those that were receiving N1,000 as monthly pensions. But this government effected a Consequential Adjustment on the N70,000 Minimum Wage. Today, the least paid pensioner receives a sum of N20,000 monthly. Between May 2024 and November 2024, a sum of N1.3b was spent on provision of palliatives for pensioners to reduce economic pressures on them”.
As part of post retirement comfort for pensioners, Oyebanji added that his government has taken more effective actions to streamline the Contributory Pension Scheme, by committing a sum of N2.16 billion for about 16,000 workers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the scheme.
Eulogising the governor for championing pro-retiree policies that are resetting the land, the Special Advisor to the Governor on Pension Matters, Mr. Pius Owolabi, urged his members to vote massively for the governor in the June 20 poll to appreciate him for his love and compassion.
“The labour leaders have promised over 300,000 votes, the pensioners who are elites and community leaders should use their contacts to mobilise more votes for the governor. It is not about your votes alone, try and mobilise others, so that these things we are enjoying can continue when Governor Oyebanji gets a second term. There is no deceit, let us fulfil this commitment”.
Describing the commitment being displayed by Governor Oyebanji to payment of gratuities as representing a ray of hope for retirees, the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, said the Governor has been fulfilling the pact he signed with retirees to prioritise their welfare to elongate their life expectancy and reduce mortality rate.
Dr Olomojobi said Governor Oyebanji’s decision to release a sum of N2 billion to respond to gratuities’ payment, further amplified his fidelity to keeping electioneering promises and make the lives of the retirees more rewarding and blossoming.
Chairmen of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kolapo Olatunde and and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Omotola Farotimi, saluted Oyebanji for dismantling the old era of delayed payments of salaries, gratuities and other emoluments, stressing that this has boosted the health status of pensioners and those in the service .
“Gone were those days when retirees were going about with drugs to stabilise theirr blood pressures, because pensions and gratuities were not paid. But today, Governor Oyebanji is responding to payment swiftly. The salaries, gratuities and pensions are now being paid as and when due. What we need is massive votes for him on June 20. Let us stand firmly by him. He has earned it and deserves it”.
Appreciating the Governor on behalf of the retirees, a former labour leader, Com. Oluropo Olayemi, promised 250,000 vote tally for the governor in the impending poll, saying his policies are creating enabling environment for pensioners to live and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Dignitaries at the ceremony include the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo, Commissioners for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, Education, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye, Women’s Affairs, Peju Babafemi, Director General of OTSD, Dr. Moyo Ekundayo, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Alaba Abejide, Permanent Secretaries, Executive Secretaries, General Managers, among others.
