The Secretary  of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Comrade  Olusegun Abatan has disclosed that the Executive Governor of Oyo State His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM) is the Governor that paid the highest amount of gratuity to the retirees Nationwide.

Comrade Olusegun Abatan made this known today during the flag-off of the year 2022 second phase payment of gratuity to 382 retirees including primary schools teachers and local Government staff as well as next of kin’s to deceased  pensioners  He further described Governor Seyi Makinde as an epitome of Omoluabi because he has released a huge amount of money for the payment of retirees’ gratuity every four months and also pays pensioners pension on every 25th day of each month.

Comrade Abatan thereby advised the State pensioners to vote in GSM for a second term to continue the good work and avoid huge casualties among pensioners. ” The Pensioners will fall to casualties if Governor Seyi Makinde doesn’t return as Governor”

Meanwhile, the Executive Governor of Oyo State ably represented by Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe assured the pensioners in the State that the present administration will always ensure they received their benefits with ease. ”Also, Oyo state Government is planning to create an act that will make life better for all senior citizens in the State”

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Local Government Pension Board, Alhaji Luqman Muraina  who held sway for the Chairman of the Board Prince Adeyemi Adebayo Fatai who was unavoidably absent at the event commended the present administration in Oyo State for alleviating the suffering of the good people of the State most especially the  pensioners through various laudable projects and prompt payment of entitlements to workers and pensioners in the State. ” No doubt, this gesture calls for holistic support from us to ensure that this  administration is returned elected in 2023”

Alhaji Luqman Muraina seized the opportunity to express his sincere appreciation to the Executive Governor of Oyo State for giving him a rare privilege to become the Permanent Secretary of Local Government Pension board while he promised that he will never disappoint the State Government in the discharge of duties that will eradicate suffering from the face of the senior citizens.

Other top officials that reinstated the indelible achievements of GSM  and why he should be voted in for second time were; Honourable Commissioner for Information Dr. Wasiu Adewale Olatunbosun, the ALGON Chairman Hon. Sikiru Sanda.

More so, Mr. Tunde Owoade one of the beneficiaries says a big thank you to the Executive Governor of Oyo State and promised on behalf of other beneficiaries to repay this kind gesture come 2023 by voting en masse for Governor Seyi Makinde.

In attendance  were ; All the Executive Chairmen  Local Government in Ibadan, the Oyo State NUP Chairman, Comrade Isiaka Abolade ,and other excos,The representative of Oyo State NULGE, The Permanent  Secretary Local Government Service Commission Mr. Akin Olufunmilayo, Conference of Head of Local Government, The Conference of Directors of  Administration, The Conference of Director of Finance and Supplies, Conference of Internal Audito ,the CAN President Mercy  Danladi and other dignitaries .

E.Signed:

Oyaremi Nike,

Head of Information Unit,

Oyo State Local Government Pension Board.

A monthly payroll exercise done today 3rd August 2022 at lobby water building Secretariat. This exercise has been a form of awareness Campaign for His Excellency Engr.  Seyi Makinde to reciprocate his kind gesture towards the senior citizens. Dancing, singing  and prayers for the Governor were not exempted. A popular Radio program presenter Mr. Kehinde Aberu agba praised the present Administration with chants.

The Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Lukman Muraina, was present along with Mr Akinpelu, Mr. Tunji.Ogunwale who are the NUP  Excos. Director of

Finance, Alhaji  Kunle  Salami, Director of Admin and General Services Mr. K.K Fashola  Director of Budget Mrs. C.O Ayodele and other staff  members of the  board were also present.

The counselling session by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina was corroborated by NUP Excos  that the retirees are free to come to the board for any enquiry as this will put a halt to extortion  and other form unlawful acts  by the so called Admin Officers in charge of their files. The Permanent Secretary promised to ensure succour to the senior citizens wherever they are. The Pension Certificate and other documents were dispatched to the pensioners according to their arrival.

E -Signed

Oyaremi Nike

Information Officer

Over 200 newly retired Local Government staff and Primary School Teachers get patrolled today
Thursday, 30th of June, 2022. at quadrangle Lobby of the water building, Secretariat the exercise was kicked off with prayer and songs of praises In honour of Almighty God and the present Administration led by Engr.Seyi Makinde.
In attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Lukman Muraina,Director of
Finance, Alhaji Kunle Salami,Director of Admin and General Services Mr Fashola The Internal Auditor Mrs Olanrewaju Jibola and other staff members of the pensions board.
The newly retired Officers were giving the tips to conduct some of the things required of them which would reduce the stress the pensioners would have to go through .The pensioners’scooperation with the pension Board staff were sought for to ensure fast and hassle-free processing of files.

The. Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina also urged the senior citizens to make any direct to. The bank themselves instead of getting any agent involved to avoid being scammed He further advised them not to delegate payment of any fee to anyone claiming to be in a position to handle such, as it could be fraudulent. He assured them that due process is in place for the prompt processing of their files and no one will stress them before they get their entitlements.

Questions session came up next. A pensioner mentioned delay in getting his monthly pension due to the bank he uses. He advised that the board ask them to start using the same bank if that would ensure that they get their monthly dues faster. Another pensioner from Ibadan south-west asked about the plan for pensioners who are owed arrears because they didn’t start getting
pension until over a year after retirement. She also wanted to know how far the process for payment of gratuity for 2016 retirees had gone. The permanent secretary informed her that the union has written to the Governor and the Governor has approved work related to resolving that.

After all issues and questions had been addressed, the meeting came to an end.

“It befuddles me when I hear some  people, who have deliberately refused to acknowledge the good works of our dear Governor, say that regular payment of monthly salaries of active Civil/Public Servants, as well as pensions and gratuities of retirees is no big deal; in fact, to the detractors of the present administration in the Pacesetter State, ‘it’s not an achievement at all’. I now ask them what parameters do they use to measure achievements? If a Government could spend a whole eight years in power, yet could not pay up to just a billion naira within the eight years to retirees for their take-home, would you refer to that as  an achievement or failure? ”

This poser was released by the special adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Labour Matters, a former labour leader and retired permanent secretary in the State civil service, Comrade Sikirullahi Bayo Titilola-Sodo, at the flag off ceremony of the distribution of the 7th tranche of gratuity cheques of one billion naira only, to retired primary school teachers and Local Government staff, numbering about 436.

Speaking further on the occasion, Comrade Sodo said, “Since the inception of GSM administration, His Excellency had paid as gratuity #8.29 billion at the Local Government level, and #5.4 billion at the State level, totalling #13.69 billion thus far. The interesting aspect of it is that solid infrastructure are still being put in place, without compromising quality and standard. Kindly check the Adamasingba sports complex being renovated with international standard touch, and which will by God’s grace be commissioned this very week; the Moniya-Iseyin road, which is only comparable to Ilesa/Akure highway in terms of standard and quality; Oyo/Iseyin road, which although belongs to the Federal Government, yet is being rehabilitated for the use of our people; recruitment of 5,000 teachers into our public schools, 500 nurses into our clinics, as well as doctors recruited and placed on GL 13; sole ownership of LAUTECH, to mention just a few. All these achievements are  visible even to the blind, but if some detractors have deliberately decided not to see them, then something is wrong somewhere with such people. ”

In their various goodwill messages, the Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government and representative of ALGON at the event, Hon. Rahaman Adepoju; and  Nigeria Union of Pensioners State assistant secretary, Comrade Banji Koleoso, both counseled the retirees on the imperative of making a judicious use of the money, avoid scammers, do their homework very well prior to venturing into any business at this time, and finally prayed for them that they would not spend the money on sickness or devourer.

In his keynote address, the Pension Board Chairman, Prince Bayo Adeyemi, appreciated the Almighty God for using Governor Seyi Makinde to put smiles on the faces of the lucky Pensioners who had laboured meritoriously for the service of Oyo State.

“It is indeed awesome, as the lives of our senior citizens will receive a boost occasioned by the magnanimous release of over one billion naira as the 7th tranche, by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, the people’s governor, as this giant stride will greatly improve their lives positively towards having a better retirement life,” Hon. Adeyemi stated.

While rejoicing with the living beneficiaries, Prince Adeyemi also used the medium to commiserate with the families of those who are late, reminding them of the need to make a judicious use of the resources.

“For those with business plan, I urge you to be passionate about it, but for those without one, you are encouraged to employ the services of experts on how best to invest your money. It is our prayers that the Lord will prolong your lives in good health such that the Government will serve you more than you have served the Government, “Prince Adeyemi prayed.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Pension Board secretary Dr. Ayodele Busari, gave God the glory for granting the beneficiaries the grace to witness the auspicious occasion, after serving their state with all their vigour. Dr. Busari also enjoined the beneficiaries to eat well, rest well, reminding them that rest is always sweet after labour, and to always check their health status regularly, praying for them that they would not spend their retirement period in ailment, nor become a source of problem or devourer to their children. She also admonished them on the need to be wary of scammers, assuring them of adequate attention anytime they needed explanation, rather than falling prey to conmen.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Richard Olayiwola appreciated God for counting them worthy to receive their entitlements in their lifetime, praying for Governor Seyi Makinde to continue to soar higher and higher in and outside office.

The 7-day exercise which was flagged off on Monday at the main lobby of Water Corporation Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, had in attendance the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Akin Funmilayo; the director of pension, office of the auditor general for Local Government, Mr. Salami; executive members of the State NUP, pension board management staff and other eminent personalities.

SIgned

Oyaremi kudirat

Media officer

LGSPB