Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji reassured pensioners on Tuesday that his administration is prioritising the payment of pensions and gratuities to improve the lives of senior citizens. He emphasized that the beneficiaries will include both “retirees who are alive and the next‑of‑kin of those who are deceased.”
Speaking in Ado Ekiti during the handover of cheques for N130 million in gratuities to 69 retired local‑government workers and teachers, Oyebanji said, “I understand the pain and agony of people who have worked for many years without receiving their entitlements on time. I want to assure our elderly citizens that this administration will continue to make pension and gratuity payments a top priority.” He noted that the payment of gratuities has been a challenge for previous administrations and that the state currently owes over N40 billion in outstanding liabilities. Despite the efforts of the former administration, remittances to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate have risen to N100 million.
Elder Joel Akinola, Chairman of the Ekiti State branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, praised the governor as a “promise keeper” who has been making history since taking office in October. Akinola urged the beneficiaries to “go home, eat well, take your medicine and be fine.”
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