… reiterates commitment to workers’ welfare
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on Tuesday distributed gratuity Cheques of 130 million naira to another batch of retired Local Government workers and Primary School Teachers in the state restating his administration’s committment to prioritising welfare of workers and pensioners in the State.
Speaking during the presentation of Cheques to the beneficiaries at a brief ceremony at Jibowu Hall, Government house, Ado Ekiti, the Governor said the event was a fulfilment of his campaign promises that his government would prioritize the welfare of Ekiti workers while in active service and at retirement.
Governor Oyebanji said he understood the pains and agony of people working for so many years and not being paid their entitlements as and when due. He affirmed that his Government would continue to work hard at ensuring the retirees get their benefits when they are still alive.
“It is my delight that we are all here today to witness the fulfilment of one of my campaign promises to our workers that government will prioritize their welfare while in service and at their retirement”
“I always say, my father and my late mum were both teachers and my father is a retiree, so I quite understand the pains and agony of people working for so many years and not been paid their entitlement as and when due” .
Governor Oyebanji, who affirmed that his administration is not oblivious of the hardship, pains and challenges being faced by the senior citizens in the state as a result of their unpaid benefits over the years, commended the best efforts of the immediate past administration which increased remittances to PTAD from 10 million naira at inception of that administration to 100 million naira.
The Governor therefore assured Pensioners in the state that his administration would continue to make payment of pension and gratuity a top priority, adding that his government had set up a committee comprising relevant stakeholders to come up with a working strategy that could be employed in offsetting outstanding gratuities.
“I want to therefore assure our elderly citizens that this administration will continue to make payment of pension and gratuity a top priority and this is without prejudice to other welfare programmes targeted at our Senior Citizens”
“I am happy to inform you that we have set up a committee comprising of relevant stakeholders comprising most especially the NUP to come up with working strategy and modalities that could be employed to offset the outstanding backlogs of gratuities to the pensioners in Ekiti State” the Governor explained.
The Governor, who also used the medium to solicit support of the senior citizen for the Presidential Candidate of the All progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National and State House of Assembly candidates, affirmed that having a president who has sympathy for Ekiti and understands the challenges will make his job more easier to surpass their expectations.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Mr Oluwadare Jolumo thanked the Governor for being a promise keeper and someone who takes welfare of others serious. He stated that considering the financial situation of the state and the economic outlook of the country, no one would have thought the payment was possible.
Oluwadare then charged the retirees to continue to pray for the Oyebanji led-administration with assurance that succour was on the way for all of them as the Governor had promised that payment of gratuity to pensioners would be a continuous process.
In the same vain, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners Ekiti State Chapter, Elder Dare Akinola, who appreciated the Governor for remembering the retirees despite the meager resources available to the State, charged the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously and ensure to take good care of their health.
Princess Esther Awolusi, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries expressed he appreciation to the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises and therefore implore her colleagues to support the Governor by voting for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress come February 25, 2023.