Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday, reassured pensioners in the state he is prioritising payment of their pension and gratuities to ensure better lives for the senior citizens.
Oyebanji said beneficiaries of the payments would include “retirees that are alive and the next-of-kin of those that are deceased.”
The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti during the handover of cheques for the payment of a total of N130m gratuities to 69 retired local government workers and teachers.
He said, “I quite understand the pains and agony of people working for so many years and have not been paid their entitlement as and when due.
“I want to assure our elderly citizens that this administration will continue to make payment of pension and gratuity a top priority.”
The governor said the payment of gratuities was one of the challenges the administrations before him contended with.
“As of today, the state owes in excess of N40bn as outstanding liabilities.
“In spite of the best effort of the last administration, it increased remittance to Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate to the tune of N100m,” he said.
The Chairman, Ekiti State branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Elder Joel Akinola, lauded the governor, describing him as a promise keeper who had been making history since he assumed office as governor last October.
Akinola urged the beneficiaries to “go home and eat well, take your medicine and be fine.”
