Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has promised to sustain his administration quarterly payment of N500million to retirees in both the state civil and local government services, to offset backlog of gratuities and pensions inherited from the previous administration in the state
Abiodun who gave the assurance on Wednesday while carrying out a symbolic presentation of cheques to some retirees at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, said the event was a demonstration of his administration’s determination to fulfil its promises to all workers, particularly the elderly.
His words,“I assure you of a process for our pensioners. Though these payments are inherited liabilities from past governments, I assure you that the process of paying these gratuities has started and will definitely continue on a quarterly basis,” .
The Governor also enjoined the retirees to take advantage of other opportunities under his administration social welfare scheme, to empower themselves ,besides the payment of monetary entitlements to them
“I enjoin our elders to take advantage of our administration’s social intervention programmes. For those of you who are into micro and small businesses, you can key into Oko-Owo Dapo, a micro credit scheme that provides a window for women to access financial resources. It empowers our people to expand their micro and small businesses", he urged them
Abiodun also stressed the need for the Pensioners to key into the CBN Anchor Borrower Scheme by accessing credit facilities for their agricultural projects
“In the same vein, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), we have inaugurated the Anchor Borrowers Scheme on Agriculture. Under this scheme, our people, including our pensioners, can turn to agric entrepreneurship as a way of life and living. Under the scheme, participants will be provided with land, which will be cleared for them. Improved seedling and extension services will also be provided for them. In addition, off takers, that is, the Anchors, will be sourced for their produce at agreed prices that are known to all at the time of planting, thereby guaranteeing price stability and adequate reward for effort. In fact, CBN will pay stipends to the farmers pending the harvest and sale of their produce,” Abiodun said.
Also the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of State Pension, Mr. Olukunle Sodeinde, speaking at the event, said the government had released N500million as part payment of outstanding to the state and local government retirees owed by past governments.
He explained that the N500million would be paid to those scheduled for January 2014 and part local government retirees of 2011.
Responding,the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners,Mr. Waheed Oloyede, however called for an upward review of the N500million to N1billion, while appreciating the governor for fulfilling his electoral promise to the retirees in the state
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