By Adebayo Yusuf
Oyo State Government has continued the payment of gratuities and death benefits to another set of retirees and Next of Kins of deceased retirees.
Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. Akeem Ige made this known at the symbolic presentation of cheques to retired local government workers and primary school teachers in Ibadan.
Hon. Ige said the state government earmarked 1.7 billion naira as payment to over 500 beneficiaries, noting that the payment batches have been extended to four times in a year.
Hon. Ige called on the retirees to support Governor Seyi Makinde’s policies and programmes.
On his part, Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State council, Comrade Olusegun Abatan lauded the state pension board for creating an additional batch in a year to fast track the payment of backlog of gratuities and death benefits owed by previous administrations.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for being a pensioners’ friendly governor since inception of his administration.
Various stakeholders at the event urged the beneficiaries to be careful of fraudsters that may want to swindle them of their entitlements.
Present at the event were Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Alhaji Lukman Muraina, President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Oyo state council, Comrade Ayobami Adeogun, Chairman, Oyo NUP Retired Teachers Wing, Comrade Dosu Akinpelu, Chairman, Oyo NUP, Retired Local Govt. Staff, Pastor James Ayanlowo.
