In order to improve the standard of living of beneficiaries, and also to fast the payment exercise, the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board today commenced monthly payment of gratuity to pensioners.

In his keynote address at the flag off ceremony of the monthly payment exercise, the Chairman of the Board, Hon Akeem Ademola Ige stated that all the pensioners friendly policies of His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde are being executed by the Board.

In his words ” as you are all aware that our amiable Governor Seyi Makinde is implementing policies and programmes that are making life more meaningful for all the pensioners in the State. Hence, we commence today monthly payment of gratuity and death benefits to another batch of retirees.”

” In our usual practice, the payment exercise will be held in all the geo-political zones of the State and all the beneficiaries will receive alert in the comfort of their homes. This is with a view to reduce stress of all the beneficiaries both retired Local Government staff and public primary school teachers. Total sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (#550m) will be disbursed to One Hundred and Thirty Four beneficiaries in this payment exercise” he said.

Hon Akeem Ige then commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the recent unprecedented upward  increase in monthly pension of all pensioners in the State.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina said monthly payment of gratuity will allow pensioners have quick access to their retirement benefits and that the Board will soon embark on “I Am Alive Screening Exercise” in order to ascertain number of retirees that are alive and discover those that have died.

According to the Permanent Secretary, “conducting I Am Alive Screening Exercise is part of our statutory functions to determine the total number of retirees that are still alive and the deceased retirees. In August 2023, we saved millions of naira for the state government through the discovery at the screening exercise.”

In their various goodwill messages, the State Chairmen, Nigeria Union of Pensioners NUP Retired Primary School Teachers’ wing Com Dosu Akinpelu and retired Local Government Staff wing Com Muniru Adesope respectively expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for rolling out pensioners welfare packages since assumption of office in May 2019 till date.

In their separate responses, Alhaji Fatai Azeez and Mrs. Mamasepe Janet on behalf of all the beneficiaries thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for paying their retirement benefits and prayed that God in His infinite mercy will continue to bless him.

The programme which was held in the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan had in attendance the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries Ibadan City zone1, Pastor Adeola Oduola, Ibadan Less City zone2 Mr. Olufemi Akinwale, Heads of Departments, LGSPB , NUP state Trustee 1 Comrade Ayodabo, and other state and Local Government NUP Executives.

E-Signed

Banke Adeyemo

DESS

LGSPB

The Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon Akeem Ademola Ige has warned prospective retirees  to desist  from patronising agents, touts or intermediaries in the processing of their retirement benefits.

Hon Akeem Ademola Ige gave the warning while receiving exhibits of files  belonging to prospective retirees stocked in big sacks brought to the Board by the daughter of a deceased agent/intermediary  .

Hon Akeem Ige who received the exhibits in the presence of some officials of the Board and the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Retired Primary School Teachers’ wing, Comrade  Dosu Akinpelu expressed shock and displeasure towards the racketeering  act perpetrated by  the deceased agent whose daughter said was a retired civil servant before he later died last year.

During interrogation, the daughter of the deceased agent said her late  father named late Adetutu Emmanuel Aderemi   was a retired  civil servant and the children saw the sacks containing vital documents at home after he  died and decided to bring them to Local Government Staff Pension Board.

While checking the exhibits which contained original documents of retirees  such as appointment letters, promotion letters,  school credentials certificates, amongst other important documents for processing of retirement benefits of prospective retirees in Ogbomoso zone, the authority of the Board said they did not expect such an act that can tarnish the image of the Board and State Government as a whole.

Hon Akeem Ige  emphasized that this was one of the major reasons why the Board organized a 2-Day sensitization training programme for prospective retirees last year in which all of them were enlightened on seamless ways of processing their retirement benefits so that they will not fall victim of fraudsters parading as agents/touts or intermediaries that collect huge amount of money without the knowledge of the management of the Board. He further stated that the training programme was held across all the geo-political zones in the State.

He then promised to get to the root of the matter by sorting out the files to ascertain the number of retirees that  patronised and affected by the fraudulent act of the deceased agent and also deal with any other agent that wants to tarnish the good image of the present Government under Governor  Seyi Makinde.

He explained further that the Board has improved in the processing of retirees files without delay hence any act of sabotage will not be allowed.

The Chairman said the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde has been consistent in the provision of welfare packages for pensioners  since assumption of office in 2019 and will not condone any act that is inimical to the progress of the pacesetter State.

He therefore advised anybody that had anything or documents for retirement with the agent before he died should show up at Information and Public Relations Unit of the Board.

E-Signed

Banke Adeyemo

DESS

LGSPB

The Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon Akeem Ademola Ige and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Oyo State Council have expressed their  heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency,  Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for upward review of monthly pension to all pensioners.

Hon Akeem Ademola Ige  described Governor Seyi Makinde as a promise keeper and a  great leader, who has been fulfilling his promises to the people of the pacesetter  State  including the pensioners. He noted that His Excellency has prioritized the welfare of all pensioners since he assumed office in May 2019 and has never reneged.

He stated that workers and pensioners are both enjoying various welfare packages under the present administration  led by Governor Seyi Makinde and he is implementing #80, 000 new minimum wage in which salary scale had  been signed based on the agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress and other relevant stakeholders.

Hon Ige said “I am glad that our amiable Governor has announced pension review to all pensioners. This is  good news to us as Local Government Staff Pension Board and the pensioners as well. We thank His Excellency,  Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for being magnanimous. God bless and keep him for us in Oyo State”

Also, in a press release jointly signed by the State Chairman and Secretary Com Osuntade James Ayoade and Com Dr Olusegun Abatan respectively on behalf of the entire members of the  Nigeria Union of Pensioners Oyo State council said “we appreciate His Excellency,  Engr Seyi Makinde for his love , compassion and commitment to the welfare of our members”.

“We wish to inform our revered  members that His Excellency has announced pension review for all pensioners. The least paid pensioner will now earn #25,000. His Excellency has also graciously factored in 33% pension increase previously denied by past administrations  which was to have been implemented in 2010”.

“Consequential adjustment to pension in 2019;  20% on pension increase across board .Payment of the review takes effect from January, 2025 payment”

“We pray that God in His infinite mercy will keep our amiable Governor and his family and grant them His abundant benevolence.” The statement read.

E-Signed

Banke Adeyemo

DDESS

LGSPB

The Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board  today commenced payment of One Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Million naira as  gratuity to another batch of retired local government staff, primary school teachers and death benefits to next of kins  of deceased retirees.

This was made known by the Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board,  Hon Akeem Ademola Ige at the flag- off ceremony for the payment exercise held at  St Peter Anglican Church Hall, Aremo, Ibadan.

While delivering his keynote address, the Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon Akeem Ademola Ige said “the present administration under the able leadership of His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde has paid over Twenty Billion Naira out of over  Thirty Six Billion Naira backlog of gratuity inherited from previous administrations”.

Hon Ige further stated that the Governor has increased the monthly allocation of the Board from Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira to Five Hundred Million Naira which has helped to increase the number of beneficiaries on gratuity and death benefits.  He also noted that the governor approved the total sum of One Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (#1,650,000,000.00) for payment of gratuity and death benefits to this batch of beneficiaries both retired primary school teachers and local government retirees.

Furthermore, Hon Ige said “the new policy of monthly payment of gratuity and death benefits will now commence as from January 2025. We are assuring you that the modalities for monthly payment across the Local Government Areas will still continue. This is meant to make life more meaningful to our esteemed senior citizens, fast track the payment, increase beneficiaries and improve standard of living”.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina  said “beneficiaries will receive alert of their gratuity and death benefits on their mobile phones and implored them to continue to support and cooperate with the present government in Oyo State in order to continue to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

In their various goodwill messages, the State Chairman and Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Council,  represented by the Assistant Secretary, Comrade Banji Kolesoso, State Chairman, NUP , retired primary school teachers wing ,  Com Dosu Akinpelu and State Chairman,  NUP,  Local Government Staff Wing, Com Dr Taiwo Ayanlowo expressed gratitude to the Governor of Oyo State , Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for implementing various pensioners’ welfare policies since assumption of office in May 2019 till date. They also urged the beneficiaries to spend their money wisely and warned them to be wary of fraudsters and prayed for Engr Seyi Makinde led Government.

In their separate responses , some of the beneficiaries,  Pastor Olutunde  Adegbola Oladeji,  Mrs Eniola Serifat  Olufunke and Mr Akande Gbolagade Ismail thanked the Governor for the kind gesture.

E-Signed

Banke Adeyemo

DDESS

LGSPB

Alepata of Igboholand,  His Royal Majesty Oba Dr Joel Olalere Olawuwo (JP)  Olasoroogan IV has commended the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency,  Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for payment of gratuity to retired public primary school teachers and local government staff since he assumed office in May 2019.

His Royal Majesty,  Oba Dr Joel Olalere Olawuwo who retired  from Migrant Farmers Primary School Lasi 1, Igboho on 30th  February, 2019 appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for implementing  various workers and pensioners welfare packages in which he is also a beneficiary.

The royal father also noted that retirees are happy under the present administration. “We   receive our  full monthly pension on the 25th of every month, fifteen thousand wage award, ten thousand naira Christmas bonus just to mention a few out of the numerous packages retirees are enjoying under this present government”, he said.

Oba Dr. Joel Olalere Olawuwo also gave kudos to the Governor for constructing  beautiful and befitting Local Government House and Staff Training School buildings. Describing the feat  as a great  legacy. According to him “the office complex and staff training school are conducive for workers and will surely motivate workers to be more efficient and effective which will in turn improve their  productivity.

The Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board , Hon Akeem Ademola Ige also solicited for support and cooperation of all and sundry especially retirees to continue to support the present administration under the leadership of Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde as he strives to take the pacesetter State to the next level.

E signed

Banke Adeyemo

DDESS

LGSPB