Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has released N3.5 billion for the payment of gratuity to pensioners in the state.
The payment, which was made on Saturday at the Pensioners’ Day celebration, is part of the governor’s commitment to offsetting the backlog of retirees’ entitlements.
Over 500 pensioners benefited from the latest tranche of payment, with N2.3 billion gratuity paid to state pensioners and N1.2 billion to local government pensioners.
Oyebanji said, “Whatever we are doing for you is not a favour, it’s your right because you worked for it. It is my desire that you are alive to collect your gratuity and every other entitlement that is due to you.”
READ ALSO:Â Nigerian Retirees to Receive N32,000 Monthly Pension Increment
The governor also assured that his administration would continue to pay gratuity to pensioners, saying, “After we might have paid the beneficiaries of today, the gratuity payment will reach March 2015. We will continue to pay gratuity to our pensioners.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ekiti State Chapter, Joel Akinola, commended the governor for his gestures, saying, “The governor has done so much for retirees.
“He has ensured the payment of pension before the 25th of every month, cleared the arrears of pension he met on ground, ensured payment of deductions previously withheld, and approved a monthly special wage award of N10,000 in addition to normal monthly pension and food palliatives to pensioners.”
Leave a comment