NewStats: 3,262,385 , 8,176,985 topics. Date: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 05:55 AM 2l6544

OYEBANJI SHOWERS N3.5 BILLION GRATUITY ON RETIREES AT PENSIONERS' DAY

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on Saturday brought joy to the faces of retirees by distributing gratuity cheques to the tune of N3.5 billion on a day they were marking this year's edition of Pensioners' Day.

At the ceremony which was marked at the Great Eagle Hall, Ikere Road, Ado Ekiti, over 500 pensioners benefitted from the latest tranche of payment with N2.3 billion gratuity paid to state pensioners while local government pensioners got N1.2 billion gratuity.

With the payment of gratuity to the latest batch of pensioners, Governor Oyebanji's commitment to defraying of outstanding gratuity has seen the backlog cleared to March 2015 up from payment up to 2012 he met on assumption of office in October, 2022.

The gesture drew a deafening applause from the appreciative pensioners inside the hall who prayed for the Governor and expressed their readiness to keep him in office with their votes at the next governorship election describing him as a "pensioners-friendly Governor and "elders-friendly Governor."

At the event, the retirees, through the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ekiti State Chapter, Mr. Joel Akinola, took time to reel out lots of goodies that pensioners have so far enjoyed from the Oyebanji istration in the last two years.

Governor Oyebanji also assured on the readiness of his istration to commence the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000 which he described as a law that must be obeyed. He however noted that a little delay is being experienced in the state owing to the need to capture pensioners, teachers, state workers and local government workers together.


The Governor said: "On the payment of your gratuity, I don't think I have done anything spectacular. You are my parents and it is only a bastard that will not treat his parents well. My late mum died as a pensioner and my father who is at home is one of you.

"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. Out of the three months arrears of local government pensioners, I have approved one month and we will deal with the remaining two months.

“As at date our istration had paid the sum of Five Billion, Four Hundred Million (N5,400,000,000) to One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Six (1,796) State Pensioners and the sum of Two Billion, One Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, One Hundred and Ten Thousand, forty Six Kobo (N2,179,110,000.46) to Eight Hundred and Ninety One (891) pensioners at the Local Government level.

“Today, I will be flagging off additional payment of Two Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira (N2.3b) to State Pensioners and One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (N1.2b) to Local Government Pensioners totalling Three Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N3.5b). This is another demonstration of our istration’s commitment to your welfare. I urge you to continuously pray for the success of this istration so that we shall continue to do more for you.”

"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. Your prayers over me are getting answered, the only thing I need from you is your prayer."

The Governor hailed President Bola Tinubu for his for Ekiti State in allowing the State to get what was due to it while he also commended the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, for offering quality advice on setting aside certain amount of money to enable the state clears more backlog of retirees' entitlements.

While restating the commitment of his istration to regular payment of monthly pensions and offset of the backlog of arrears of gratuity, Governor Oyebanji also urged the pensioners to under the State Health Insurance Scheme for them to have access to free health services at state-owned health centres.

He disclosed that only 9,028 out of 28,000 pensioners have so far ed under the State Health Insurance Scheme urging those yet to to do so with their National Identity Numbers (NIN).

Speaking earlier, the state NUT chair, Mr. Akinola, commended Governor Oyebanji for according priority to the welfare of pensioners noting that the Ekiti helmsman has done so much for retirees.

He showered encomiums on the Governor for ensuring the payment of pension before the 25th of every month, clearing the arrears of pension he met on ground, ensuring payment of deductions previously withheld, approving a monthly special wage award of N10,000 in addition to normal monthly pension and food palliatives to pensioners, among others.

The state NUP boss who described the latest tranche of gratuity paid as "humongous" said the Governor by his numerous gestures "have covered the unclothedness of pensioners in the state" saying the state's number one citizen should be celebrated for caring for retirees.

The NUP National President, Mr. Godwin Abumhese, said Governor Oyebanji has set the pace for other Southwest governors in the area of pensioners' welfare saying the national body is happy with him for his gestures.

Abumhese said the national leadership of NUP would pay the Ekiti Governor an appreciative visit noting that Oyebanji has fulfilled his electoral promise to accord priority to pensioners”

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Great gestures.

Like it’s a free and a gift

Ekiti State, a poor state with many unemployed youths. Na God save me during NYSC. The same day I collected my discharge cert was the same day I ran away from that state.

COMRADES, hope no be audio shower oo

9 years or more after retirement. The value of the money has diminished.

Nigerian politicians wit backwardness na five and six

Imagine paying pensioners as an achievements that need camera men.

Their mate in South Africa are working for the good of the nation, nt to d president or parties.

This one go add payment of pensioners as achievements too.

🫤

I just hope the cheque is not for show and this old people will not be finding it hard to withdraw the money later ,




Nigeria politicians and their empty promises.




































we love you
our role model Princess FChukwu

He hasn't done anything yet.

What joy is there to get your gratuity after 10 years of retirement.

Can you calculate the value of that money 10 years ago and compare it to today's value.

Election is around the corner and as such they'll have to be pretentious to be nice and reasonable.

Hohaiiiode:
Like it’s a free and a gift

No, it ain't of course since the money will be paid back by their children and their children and unborn children after them.

Nigerians truly like being deceived, it seems!

tunwumi:
He hasn't done anything yet. What joy is there to get your gratuity after 10 years of retirement.
Can you calculate the value of that money 10 years ago and compare it to today's value.

You dey compare today alone, what about the interest to be paid to tackle the loan by generations to come?

FatimaAbubakar:
Ekiti State, a poor state with many unemployed youths. Na God save me during NYSC. The same day I collected my discharge cert was the same day I ran away from that state.

and most of the indigenous people their are claiming lagos boys here in nairaland🤣

Showers ke! Something that a retiree can't get up to 5m after 35 years in service? Politicians have bastardised the civil service. They now use payment of salaries and pensions as tools to win elections

No be only showers. He gave them their money, we can praise rubbish too much

He dash them their right

They must hero worship him

FatimaAbubakar:
Ekiti State, a poor state with many unemployed youths. Na God save me during NYSC. The same day I collected my discharge cert was the same day I ran away from that state.

The place isn't supposed to be a state on its own

blackgold2018:
and most of the indigenous people their are claiming lagos boys here in nairaland🤣

Yes ooo

Did you say Showers??
As if it's free money.

Rivers state government this is worth emulating Pay Rivers state retirees their gratuity.

I don’t know how our government officials want the pensioners to survive when they refuse to pay these folks their money.

Ringstonermask:
Nigerian politicians wit backwardness na five and six

Imagine paying pensioners as an achievements that need camera men.

Their mate in South Africa are working for the good of the nation, nt to d president or parties.

This one go add payment of pensioners as achievements too.

WOW! See talk, is like you and common sense are quarelling.

Election is coming this one just dey pay for media PR upandan

To pay you for the work and benefit you deserve, they had to hire a camera too, and post it online like they are doing you a favour.

This Ekiti governor I have not seen initiate or commission any meaningful project but the media always try to paint him as performing

Can someone name 5 major project this man has done?

God have mercy. This is slavery mentality. Those gratuities and pensions are their rights, not a favour for them to be grateful for. They were deductions from their pay when they were working or active. Normally, those are supposed to be first charges on the state revenue before other discretionary spendings.

You dont laud a governor for paying what is due to people by rights.

Na wah o!!

Hohaiiiode:
Like it’s a free and a gift

Was it a free gift when fayemi abandoned them?. It is not his istration that is owing them. Appreciate good deeds

shower ke, isn't it theirs in the first place?