Hundreds of pensioners in Oyo State, on Friday, trooped to the Governor’s Office to express appreciation to Governor Abiola Ajimobi for approving the payment of their several allowances, which had been denied them for years by past administrations.
The pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, had dragged the immediate past administration of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala to court over the non-payment of the arrears of 142 per cent pension increase, non-payment of 10 per cent compensation allowance to those forcefully retired in 2002 and non-placement of pensioners on six per cent and 15 per cent pension increase.
Ajimobi, however, approved the payment of 142 per cent pension increase in September 2011, four months after assumption of office.
Besides, the state government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the pensioners on January 9, 2013 to begin the payment of 10 per cent compensation allowance to those forcefully retired in 2002.
The governor also approved the placement of pensioners on six per cent and 15 per cent pension increase, with effect from February 2013 and payment of arrears of six per cent pension increase from October 2003 and January 31, 2013, a total of 112 months.
Part of the agreement also was the payment of the arrears of 15 per cent pension increase from January 2007 to January 2013.
The pensioners, who could not hide their feelings, sang and danced in praises of the governor and offered special prayers for him for coming to their rescue when all hope seemed to have been lost.
The state NUP Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Azeez, said that his members would continue to be grateful to the governor for his magnanimity and good gesture towards them.
Ajimobi, in his response, told the pensioners that he could not have done otherwise, given the fact that they had suffered neglect from past administrations.
He said: “I want to thank you all for appreciating what my government and I have done for you.
“I want to tell you that I am merely fulfilling the promise I made to you at the inception of my administration.
“The promise was based on my concern for your plight as I would not want any of you to suffer after you had used the better part of your productive years to serve the government.
“In fact, it would be a sin not to attend to you.”
The governor urged the pensioners to continue to support and pray for his administration and project its image as a government that was out to serve the best interest of the people.
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