Pensioners in Kwara state, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), have cried out to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to intervene and rescind the decision on quit notice by the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KGIS) to the union to vacate their state secretariat.
The state government had for months now embarked on an urban renewable project to beautify the state capital with notices given to owners of buildings and structures with attachments that obstruct free flow of traffic to remove such.
In a statement signed by the Kwara NUP chairman, Comrade Saidu Oladimeji and the Secretary, Comrade (Chief) Abraham Jona Gana JP on Monday, the union pleaded with the state government to temper justice with mercy by rescinding its decision over the quit notice, asking that the union should be given an alternative place to operate pending the time it will construct a new secretariat.
“The Union does not say it will not quit but all that is saying is that an alternative building should be provided for its operations, while a piece of land should also be allocated for the construction of a new secretariat”.
The Kwara State Chapter of the NUP was reacting to a letter, titled, “Removal Notice” emanated from the Kwara State Geographic service and dated August 30, 2024 in which the union was given a directive of 24 hours in which it should quit its present secretariat.
The union expressed dismay and displeasure over the action it described as harsh, adding that the notice to quit within 24 hours was too short without provision of an alternative place for the union to operate.
“The union pointed out that for long, it has taken many measures including applying for an alternative place to operate as a Secretariat, applying for a piece of land to build
its own Secretariat and other actions taken by the Union, but all our steps have yielded no positive result.
“Surprisingly, the Kwara State Geographic Information Service just went ahead to issue a removal letter in which the Union was given 24 hours to quit. This is completely a harsh and unfair actions!
“The Union, therefore, viewed the action as not only bad but also it is a great hardship and inconvenience for the Union.
“It will be recalled that the Union has been fully cooperating with the present administration since its inception and has also been giving it unalloyed support but this kind of treatment is not good for the pensioners who are senior citizens.
“If the government has for a long time granted its request, it should have completed building a new secretariat which His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, should have been invited to commission.
“The Union, therefore, humbly pleaded with the Government
to temper justice with mercy by rescinding its decision over the quit notice while the Union should be given an alternative place to operate pending the time it will
construct a new secretariat.
“The Union similarly appealed to our God-fearing and listening Governor to as a matter of urgency allocate the Union a piece of land for its new Secretariat assuring that if this is done, a new Secretariat will be constructed.
“The Union does not say it will not quit but all that is saying is that an
alternative building should be provided for its operations, while a piece of land should also be allocated for the construction of a new secretariat.
“The Union reiterates its full support and cooperation to the present administration as it wishes Our present Governor, the new Sadauna of llorin, all the best all the way”.
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