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Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing the well-being of workers and pensioners in the state. On Tuesday, he distributed gratuity cheques totaling 130 million naira to a new group of retired Local Government workers and Primary School Teachers. This initiative reflects the governor’s dedication to supporting the financial security of those who have served the community.

Governor Oyebanji while addressing the recipients during a ceremony at Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti, emphasized that the distribution of cheques was a realization of his campaign pledge. He reiterated his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Ekiti workers both during their active service and in retirement.

All Nigeria Latest News reports that the governor expressed empathy for those who had dedicated numerous years to work without receiving timely entitlements. He assured that his government would persist in its efforts to ensure retirees receive their benefits while still in good health and alive, acknowledging the importance of honoring their contributions.

“It is my delight that we are all here today to witness the fulfilment of one of my campaign promises to our workers that government will prioritize their welfare while in service and at their retirement”

“I always say, my father and my late mum were both teachers and my father is a retiree, so I quite understand the pains and agony of people working for so many years and not been paid their entitlement as and when due” .

Governor Oyebanji acknowledged the hardships and challenges faced by senior citizens in the state due to delayed benefits. He commended the preceding administration for enhancing remittances to PTAD, increasing the contribution from 10 million naira at the beginning of their tenure to 100 million naira.

The Governor reassured pensioners in the state that his administration would consistently prioritize the payment of pensions and gratuities. He mentioned the establishment of a committee involving key stakeholders to devise an effective strategy for addressing outstanding gratuities, emphasizing the government’s commitment to resolving this matter.

“I want to therefore assure our elderly citizens that this administration will continue to make payment of pension and gratuity a top priority and this is without prejudice to other welfare programmes targeted at our Senior Citizens”

“I am happy to inform you that we have set up a committee comprising of relevant stakeholders comprising most especially the NUP to come up with working strategy and modalities that could be employed to offset the outstanding backlogs of gratuities to the pensioners in Ekiti State” the Governor explained.

The Governor, who also used the medium to solicit support of the senior citizen for the Presidential Candidate of the All progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National and State House of Assembly candidates, affirmed that having a president who has sympathy for Ekiti and understands the challenges will make his job more easier to surpass their expectations.

Earlier in his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Mr Oluwadare Jolumo thanked the Governor for being a promise keeper and someone who takes welfare of others serious. He stated that considering the financial situation of the state and the economic outlook of the country, no one would have thought the payment was possible.

Oluwadare then charged the retirees to continue to pray for the Oyebanji led-administration with assurance that succour was on the way for all of them as the Governor had promised that payment of gratuity to pensioners would be a continuous process.

In the same vain, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners Ekiti State Chapter, Elder Dare Akinola, who appreciated the Governor for remembering the retirees despite the meager resources available to the State, charged the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously and ensure to take good care of their health.

Princess Esther Awolusi, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries expressed he appreciation to the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises and therefore implore her colleagues to support the Governor by voting for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress come February 25, 2023.

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