2024 Pensioners’ Day: Over 28,000 Ondo Retirees Endorse Aiyedatiwa For Continuity

By Our Correspondent, 2nd November, 2024

In solidarity with the governor of Ondo State ahead of the November 16 Governorship Election, the Pensioners in the state have unanimously endorsed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for continuity describing him as one governor that prioritize the welfare of Retirees since assumption of office.

The endorsement took place at the Pensioners House, Oda Road, Akure during the 2024 Pensioners Day under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

Addressing the Retirees, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Prince Olusegun Omojuwa who represents his Boss declared that Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration is committed to the welfare of pensioners with a vow that he will not play politics or interfere with the comfort of the senior citizens.

The Governor commended the effective leadership being provided by the NUP Chairman, describing him as a focused leader who mean well for the Senior Citizens with several achievements recorded under his watch.

” As a government, we can’t downplay the importance of Pensioners in the state who have served the state meritoriously and we shall continue to hold you in high esteem. I am assuring you that we shall continue to sustain disbursement of monthly gratuity to Pensioners and we are not going to owe any pensioner before the expiration of my tenure.

Governor Aiyedatiwa promised to do more when elected saying all their yearnings and demands would be looked and attended to.

According to the Governor, ” Upon assuming office on December 27, 2023, I implemented a coordinated and sustainable strategy to allocate funds regularly for the clearance of pension backlogs and I has made substantial progress in addressing the arrears for state retirees from 2014 and 2015, as well as those for local government retirees from 2021 to 2013, ensuring that the backlogs are cleared month by

month”.

The governor who described Pensioners’ as significant stakeholders and vital contributors to the development of Ondo State’s public service highlighted some of the key actions his government has taken to improve the welfare of the senior citizens.

His words: “We have sustained monthly fund releases for the payment of gratuities, both at the local and state government levels. We ensure regular payment of pensions to our retirees at both levels and conduct sensitization seminars for retiring civil servants and teachers. We have aligned the payment of monthly pensions with the salaries of active workers, so that all payments are completed by month-end.”

Earlier, in his address, the state Chairman NUP, Johnson Osunyemi said the union comprising 28,000 members have unanimously endorsed Governor Lucky for the November 16 gubernatorial election, describing him as a Pensioners’ friendly governor.

“We wish to use today’s celebration, not only as an avenue to celebrate your empathetic and compassionate dispositions to us alone but to also affirm your candidature as our anointed gubernatorial candidate and direct all our over 28,000 Pensioners and our families to vote for you at the November 16 governorship polls so that the good work we are enjoying can continue.

“We observe, with excitement and ecstasy how the hither-to sinking ship of our dear Sunshine State has suddenly been brought afloat with the emergence of His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa as our Governor.

“We note with utter satisfaction how we suddenly danced out of the quagmire of percentage payments and six and seven and a half months pension arrears of State and Local Government Pensioners to full payments of our monthly pensions, devoid of any arrears again.

“Equally too, we note with appreciation how the humongous backlog of gratuities are being systematically reduced within the short time he became our Governor. So far, the sum of N10.3billion has been paid as gratuities to Pensioners since he came on board”, Osunyemi stressed.

In his goodwill message, the state Head of Service Mr. Bayo Philips who rejoiced with the senior citizens on the occasion also pleaded with those who are yet to get their gratuity to preserve, assuring that the state government is working to ensure the prompt payment.

The Chairman of the program, Hon Femi Idris, congratulated the Senior Citizens while asking them to mobilize across boards and vote for continuity of Governor Aiyedatiwa in office saying that is the only way they can be assured of better welfare and more dividends of good governance.

On his part, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Clement Fatuase commended Governor Aiyedatiwa welfare packages for workers in Ondo State most especially on the N73,000 Minimum Wage for workers, assuring him that the state’s workforce are ready to vote him back to office.

Dr Mercy Olayinka Idris, the Permanent Secretary in the Office Pension Transition Department said in partnership with the leadership of the NUP, Identity Card would be provided for all Retirees, introduction of Data Base, Constitution of Elders Council by her office and provision of monthly allocation for the running of the Union.

In the same way, Mr Jide Ekpo, a Permanent Secretary at the Pension Board said abandoned Pension Building would be reviewed and completed by Governor Aiyedatiwa, asking Retirees in 2015 who have not received their gratuity to visit Pension Office for their full benefits.

While giving vote of thanks, the Secretary of the NUP, Sunday Akin challenged Governor Aiyedatiwa on the need to have personal interactions with the Pensioners saying that is the only way the Union’s demands could get immediate Executive approval.

His words: ” I am using this medium to appeal to Mr Governor to attend our next year Pensioner’s Day in person and not sending representative. Pensioners want to see him and present our demands which we believe will get immediate executive approval”.