THE Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has said that previous governors before Governor Seyi Makinde were owing pensioners to the sum of N56b.
Ogundoyin made this disclosure while speaking during the pensioner’s day celebration in Ibadan.
The Speaker while speaking declared that the previous governors were owing the pensioners the sum of N56b before Makinde came to power in 2019.
Ogundoyin while addressing the pensioners promised that Makinde would offset the accumulated gratuity owed by the previous governors before the end of his administration in 2023.
He said, “By the end of this administration in 2023, Governor Seyi Makinde would have offset the N56b accumulated gratuities owed pensioners by the previous Governments in Oyo State.
“Our Pensioners have been receiving their pensions on the 25th of every Month just like the Oyo State workers. Before the commencement of this Government, a sum of N100million was usually committed monthly to the payment of pensions. But Governor Seyi Makinde had increased the money to about N300billion.
“This is because he is a Governor that is so passionate about the welfare of retirees.
While reiterating the resolve of the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly to give legislative support to policies of the Governor which are meant to enhance the standard of living of the senior citizens, Hon Ogundoyin added that the State Legislature had passed the Oyo State Pension Board Amendment Bill, 2021 and the Elderly Persons Protection Bill, 2021 into Law.
He appealed to the pensioners to desist from investing their gratuities and money on businesses they have no full knowledge of.
“Our Pensioners are elderly people and we cannot do without their wealth of experience. I want to appeal that as our fathers and mothers , we should take care of our health and engage in more recreational activities to promote their well-being. “ The Speaker said
Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Alh Siju Lawal appealed to the pensioners to continue to support the PDP led Government in the State.
Earlier the Managing Director of PENAID Limited, Mr Ola Sowemimo said the pensioners had served the society , Community, state and the nation in different capacities hence the need for all hands to be on deck to take care of them.
