Pensioners across Ekiti State have warmly welcomed recent initiatives led by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, which they say have significantly improved their quality of life. This month, the governor approved a massive N4.6 billion for outstanding gratuity payments to retired state and local government employees.
These funds, released in record time, have brought much-needed financial relief to senior citizens in the state, who describe the effort as “unprecedented.”
The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Chairman for Ekiti State, Joel Akinola, highlighted the positive impacts of the governor’s actions at a monthly prayer gathering of pensioners held in Ado Ekiti. Akinola expressed the union’s gratitude for not only the gratuity payments but also the donation of a new bus to support the pensioners’ activities.
Akinola noted that the government has also initiated several supportive programs, such as free healthcare for pensioners and financial backing for constructing the union’s guest house. Additionally, a monthly palliative of N10,000 has been introduced for all pensioners, further easing their daily expenses.
He said, “We are grateful for the recent disbursement of over N3.2bn for state pensioners and N1.4bn for local government pensioners as part of the gratuity debt clearance, as well as the addition of a N10,000 monthly palliative for all pensioners.
“We are truly grateful for the governor’s unwavering dedication to our welfare; the payment of arrears for state pensioners and the significant progress in clearing local government pensioners’ arrears is a testament to his commitment.
“This has gone a long way to enhance our financial capability, especially in the procurement of drugs and in eating well and right.
“As pensioners, we are human beings and deserve to be part of society in one way or another. That is why we want the governor to establish these recreational centres for our people to meet, socialise, and relax.
“Our members across the local government areas need the centres to relax and experience what it means to have a social life again after years of service and retirement.”
