By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The Nigerian Union of Pensioners Ekiti State Chapter has expressed confidence in the Committee set up by the state government to offset over 40 billion Naira gratuity of retirees in the state.
At the 2023 prayer conference, marking the first gathering of the NUP members in the state, the Chairman, Comrade Joel Akinola explained that the Session was to seek divine intervention for the successful tenure of the state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji.
According to him, the elder statement and women are pleased with the level of responsiveness of the state government at giving utmost priority to the welfares of the retirees, hence the reason to commit him and other handlers of government unto God for a successful year.
“We are gathered here to seek God’s face for the Governor and most especially for our nation Nigeria. This is an election year, we want God to help our minds, choose good leaders, starting from the President, to the national Assembly and state assemblies as well as other levels and arms of government, those who will provide the ways out of many problems for us.
We particularly want to pray because of Governor Oyebanji, that God Should reign in his affairs, for him to choose good heads with good minds as those who would work with him for the administration to be people oriented.
Those who would have mercy on us, it is so sad that we recorded alot of death last year, we are praying for good health so that even now that thee government is showing the readiness to pay, we want to spend the money, enjoying the fruit of our labour.
We have met and we are still meeting on the modalities to to be employed in liquidating the debt. We have made appreciable progress in negotiating but we are exercising patience and and very critical care, as well as involving financial experts in taking decisions, so as not to take wrong steps that may not be too good for the concerned retirees.
But we must commend the current government for giving us a free hand and allowing a good number of six members of the NUP to partake in the negotiation committee. You see, not everybody has the grace of coming from a good family, he has started well and we are happy with the various steps recently“
The State NUP chairman lauded the government for paying 4 months out of the owed seven months Check off dues.
He appealed to government to pay the arrears of pensions in the state.
Comrade Akinola charged civil servants in various offices playing advisory role to the government to remember that they would also come to the other side as pensioners sooner of later, hence they must do well by helping to formulate good policies that we favour the elderlies.