Ambode, Amosu, Lalong, 3 others govs to be honoured by pensioners

THE Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) will honour the governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosu, and the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, for their immense contributions to the welfare of pensioners, prompt settlement of pension and care for the senior citizens in their respective states.

Other governors to receive the award are the Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Geidam, Anambra governor, Willie Obiano and the Jigawa governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Badaru.

The six governors will receive the award of excellence in recognition of their role in the welfare of pensioners, at the 10th National Delegates’ Conference of the union holding in Kaduna next week Wednesday.

The conference will also witness the election of NUP national executives, with about 400 delegates expected at the conference to elect leaders that will pilot the affairs of the union for the next four years.

The host governor, Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, will deliver the key note address, while the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, will also deliver a speech.

All the positions will be keenly contested, including that of the president, as the incumbent NUP President, Dr Abel Afolayan will face a formidable contest from a former Lagos State NUP chairman.

But Tribune Online gathered that the incumbent, Afolayan, will most likely carry the day as virtually all the zones have adopted him as their candidate because of his achievements in the past three years.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja and signed by Comrade Bunmi Ogunkolade, the union said the governors are being honoured because they do not owe pensioners in their respective states.

The delegate conference with the theme, “challenges and prospects of pension administration in a democratic Nigeria” will also attract other top dignitaries.

Ogunkolade said pensioners in the country will use to conference to assess what the future holds for the contributory pension scheme in the country and also set agenda for the Federal Government as well as resolve on how to tackle state governors who have deliberately refused to offset pension liabilities to the senior citizens.