Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has directed the immediate commencement of the disbursement of N1 billion gratuity, released by the government to both state and local government pensioners.
Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Mrs. Olubukola Adeniregun, who made this known during an interview at her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the state government has been prioritising the payment of gratuity to pensioners who had contributed meaningfully in their active years to take the State to the current pedestal.
“You will recall that Prince Dapo Abiodun during the interactive session with pensioners at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, increased the quarterly disbursement of their gratuity from N600 million to N1 billion.
“Now, he has matched words with action, signifying a leader with the rare quality of promise made, promise kept,” she said.
Adeniregun further noted that the payment of monthly Pensions had been regular, while quarterly disbursement of gratuity to pensioners has equally been continuous.
She added that the Governor has given irrevocable approval for the prompt payment of monthly Pensions to take effect before the salary of serving workers.
She posited that under the ongoing palliative measures being put in place by the State Government, the senior citizens were not left out, as they have been paid their N10,000 monthly palliative to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
The N10,000 is expected to be paid for three consecutive months at the initial instance.
In their separate submissions, the trio of the Chairmen of the Pensioners’ Associations namely, Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN), Pastor Benedict Ademoye; Association of Retired Primary School Teachers Ogun State (ARPSTOS), Mr. Zaacheous Adekoya, and Retired Primary School Teachers Association of Nigeria (REPSTAN), Mrs. Caroline Oguntola, appreciated the Governor, for the increment in the quarterly disbursement of gratuity of retirees, noting that the regular payment of monthly Pensions is also worthy of commendation.
They urged the governor to continue his good work at making life more abundant for the senior citizens.
They admonished their fellow pensioners to be patient with the present dispensation, saying the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has shown that the welfare and well-being of Pensioners will not be taken for granted.
The Chairmen also appealed to members to ignore news not verifiable but should contact the Associations for any clarification (s) where the need arises.
