Ekiti govt pays 289 pensioners N915m gratuities

The Ekiti State government gave checks totaling N915 million in gratuities to no less than 289 pensioners on Monday.

The governor stated that he was keeping a campaign promise when he handed out the various categories of checks to the elderly.

The beneficiaries, which include retired state, local, and primary school employees, thanked the governor for covering their debts.

Additionally, they took the time to send him their best prayers, wishing him a long life and the wisdom to continue handling state affairs correctly and ascending to greater heights.

The ecstatic pensioners described the occasion as “unprecedented” in the state while speaking in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, through Mrs. Beatrice Ogunjemilua and Mr. Alonge Michael Alabi.

Abiodun Oyebanji, the governor, took advantage of the opportunity to reaffirm his administration’s dedication to initiatives and regulations that would improve the standard of living for people living in Ekiti, particularly retirees.

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“Since we came on board, we have always paid pensions alongside salaries to public employees,” Oyebanji said. This will continue, I can assure you.

“Today, the sum of N700 million has been paid out to 192 retired civil servants as gratuity and the sum of N215 million to 79 Local Government retirees,” the governor announced, claiming that the gratuity payments fulfilled his campaign pledge of shared prosperity.

The governor stated that he was aware of the difficulties facing the retirees as a result of the regrettable delay in accessing their gratuity benefits as and when due. He pledged that his administration would continue to ensure that pensioners enjoyed respectable lives after their meritorious service to the state.

Oyebanji emphasized that since taking office in October 2022, his administration has paid over N1.2 billion in gratuities to retirees from the state and local governments. He also insisted that the payment of monthly pensions has been consistent.

I am therefore committed to making sure that our retirees’ welfare remains a top priority, he continued. Additionally, we are firmly committed to ending the practice of making senior citizens wait interminably to pay their gratuities. This is a top priority for us, and we’ll keep looking for new, creative ways to help you with your retirement.

The governor was thanked by the state chairs of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Elder Joel Akinola, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kolapo Olatunde, the Trade Union Congress, Sola Adigun, and the Joint Negotiating Council, Femi Ajoloko, for prioritizing the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state.