Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has disclosed that his administration, has within the last 15 months, defrayed an aggregate of N1.2 billion gratuity arrears to retired Local government workers and Primary school teachers in the state.
In an emotion-laden tone, Oyebanji disclosed that he personally shared the pains of pensioners waiting for too long a time before being handed their gratuities, assuring that his administration will rectify such noticeable snag by fast tracking actions on payment.
Oyebanji gave the disclosure on Tuesday, while presenting gratuity cheques to retired Local Government workers and Primary School teachers, at an event held at Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti.
Assuring the retirees that their welfare shall always be of premium priority to his government, Oyebanji stated that he will explore every available opportunity to shore up the revenue base of the state to be able to discharge its obligations to all citizens.
The Governor added that his government has firmly adhered to the principles of prudent financial management and strategic planning in its operations, while also contriving means to ensure optimal use of the not-so-robust economic stature to the benefit the large populace .
The Governor assured that with the geometric increase in the payment of monthly gratuity to LG and primary school retirees, from N50 million to N100 million monthly, retirees who are still waiting in the wing will soon be captured as beneficiaries.
“It is important to place on record that we have paid N1, 214,0000,000 as gratuities to 377 retired local government and primary school teachers since the beginning of this administration. Our target is to get everyone covered; and with God on our side, we will not rest on our oars until it is achieved. Rest should, indeed sweet after labour.
“As regards the March to September 2018 arrears of your pensions, we are closing in on settling them. We have so far cleared three out of seven months. I am assuring you that the remaining four will soon be cleared”.
Oyebanji added further that his government is improving the Infrastructure base of the state as well as instilling peace and security to make Ekiti captivating to investors for sustainable economic development in the areas of industrialization, employment generation and wealth creation.
The Governor urged the beneficiaries not to expend the gratuities on inanities that won’t have positive impact on their lives, saying they should focus on those things that will add values to their welfare and wellbeing to compensate for the long period of waiting.
Describing pensioners as strategic in the development focus of Oyebanji’s government, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Folorunso Olabode, revealed that a staggering sum of N580 million was being paid as pension monthly, since the advent of this administration in 2022.
The Commissioner commended Governor Oyebanji for firmly kept to to his promise and jacked up monthly gratuity payment to local government and primary school retirees from N50 million to a humongous sum of N100 million.
“This has shown that our governor is a promise keeper. He did promise last year that the monthly payment will be increased to a sum of N100m and this has taken effect from February 2024. So, those who have not be called, they should be hopeful that their turns will come soon”.
In his submission, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ekiti chapter, Mr. Joel Akinola, commended Oyebanji for clearing the salary arrears of State Civil Servants and pensioners, exuding confidence that this will be extended to the local government and primary school teachers.
Akinola, who urged those yet to be paid not to despair, appealed to retirees to embrace the free health services specially designed for pensioners by the current administration, saying this is a way of elongating their life expectancy and put their health in proper shape.
“Our members have passed through the valley of the shadow of death. I have never seen any state where governor released cheques to pensioners every month for gratuity payment . This gives us a lot of hope. We specially thank the governor for his concern about us”.