Oyo State government on Tuesday, flagged off the payment of N1.2 billion gratuity approved by the state governor Engr ‘Seyi Makinde for payment to another set of retired local government staff and public primary school teachers as well as death benefits of next of kins of deceased retirees.
statement signed by the Deputy Director Education and Social Services (DDESS) of the Board , Mrs Banke Adeyemo and made available to Oodua News indicated that the ceremony took place at the St Peter’s Anglican Church Hall Aremo Ibadan.
In his welcome address,the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina, disclosed that the Governor Seyi Makinde had approved the payment of the gratuity in line with the state government commitment to the welfare of retirees in the state.
According to him ” today’s occasion is being flagged- off with the approval of over One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira for the payment of gratuity and other retirement benefits of retirees of public primary schools and local government service respectively. His Excellency has also approved additional fund to cater for the arrears of pension, this shall be addressed as the Board is satisfied with genuine and authentic lists of beneficiaries after reconciliation of the names presented by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of P.ensioners”
He explained further that total number of four hundred and thirteen retirees will benefit from the payment exercise and the present administration has paid over Sixteen Billion Naira (16b) on retirement benefits in general, ranging from inherited gratuity, arrears of pension and death benefits of deceased pension.
Alhaji Muraina further said that the governor has directed that the payment should be done in the six geo- political zones of the state in order to lessen the burden and save the cost of traveling of the beneficiaries.
In their various goodwill messages the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners ( NUP) Oyo State Chapter , Comrade Isiaka Abolade, the State NUP Secretary Comrade Olusegun Abatan, NUP chairman, Teachers Wing Com Dosu Akinpelu, NUP chairman Local Government Staff Wing, Dr Ayanlowo, the NULGE president, Oyo State Chapter, Comrade Ayobami Adeogun all commended the Oyo State governor Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for implementing laudable welfare packages for pensioners in the pacesetter state describing him as the best governor who considers pensioners welfare in the scheme of things since his assumption of office in May 2019.
While responding, two of the beneficiaries of the gratuity payment exercise , Mrs Babajide Christiana Omolayo and Mrs Adeyemo Funmilayo expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the people’s governor for his love and kind gestures towards pensioners in the state.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include; NUP Executives, management team of the pension Board and Desk Officers among others.
