The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ekiti state has commended the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji over the release of N4.6 billion for the payment of outstanding gratuities to state and local government pensioners within one month.
The NUP chairman in the state, Joel Akinola who spoke during the monthly prayer summit of the pensioners, said that the release of the outstanding gratuities would go a long way in ameliorating the plights of the retirees in the state.
He appealed to the governor to consider settling the remaining one month’s pension owed to local government pensioners.
The NUP chairman also called on the governor to speed up negotiations with organised labour for the implementation of the new minimum wage and the consequential pension increase.
Akinola commended the Governor’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare, highlighting the regular pension payments, ” the recent disbursement of over 3.2 billion naira for state pensioners and 1.4 billion naira for local government pensioners as part of gratuity debt clearance and the addition of a 10,000naira monthly palliative for all pensioners.”
He also lauded the free health care initiatives for all Ekiti pensioners, the financial support for the union’s guest house construction, and the donation of an 18-seater bus amongst others.
According to him, “We are truly grateful for the Governor’s unwavering dedication to our welfare, the payment of arrears for state pensioners and the significant progress in clearing local government pensioners’ arrears is a testament to his commitment.
“This has gone a long way to enhance our financial capability, especially in the procurement of drugs and in feeding well and right.”
Akinola called on the governor to establish special recreational centres in the 16 Local Government Areas of the state for pensioners to gather and socialize among themselves.
“As pensioners, we are human beings and deserve to be part of the society in one or the other and that is why we want the governor to establish these recreational centers for our people to meet and socialize and also relax.
“Our members across the Local Government Areas need it to relax and have a feel of what it means to have a social life again after working for years and retiring,” he said.
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