By Alltimepost.com
Edo state government pensioners of 2010 and 2011 now have cause to smile as Governor Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday presented checks to them in payment of their gratuities at a meeting in Benin City.
This followed the recent biometric verification of the pensioners by the state government.
The Governor said in spite of the lean resources accruing to the state, he would do everything possible to ensure that the outstanding gratuities of the senior citizens are paid without delay.
He said, already, pensioners in the state get their monthly pensions same day as other workers, noting that the state gratuity bill which was raised to N60 million from N10 million last year will be further increased to ensure that all outstanding gratuity liabilities are met.
According to him, “when I assumed office on November 12, 2008, I found that people who had retired 12 years earlier, those who retired during the military regime and those who were retired by Igbinedion government in 2000 and those who retired thereafter had not been paid their gratuity.”
The Governor said he then decided not be dealing with the arrears, but rather start to pay those who retired from the day he assumed office.
“But on further reflection, I realized that it would not be fair to the average pensioner because they were not responsible for the non-payment.”
According to him, he as a result decided to take responsibility to clear all the arrears, but the amount involved was so huge in the face of serious financial constraints.
“Initially, because our resources were small, I said let’s start with at least N10 million and I have increased it up to N60 million by the middle of last year. But I look at the number and I realized that if we continue that way, we may never be able to pay everybody and so, I felt I should do more to look for more money to deal with the issue of pension,” he said.
He assured that government was doing everything possible to fasttrack the process of ensuring that all gratuities are paid.
“I understand that in this hall, we have about 800 persons and we said we are doing it year by year. So we have brought together in this hall, 2010 and 2011,” He said.
Governor Oshiomhole thanked the pensioners for their patience over the years, assuring that the waiting time was over.
“Gratuities will be paid. Let me also assure you that this gratuity will not be paid piecemeal, not that they will give you 40%, 50% and then you come back another day, no. this present gratuity will be paid in full at once.”
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, National Union of Pensioners, Edo State Chapter, Comrade Enaruna said, “From the expression on the faces of the Pensioners, the Governor has done well. I can never thank you enough.”
Responding on behalf of the Pensioners, Mr. Omoruyi Etinosa Godspower expressed gratitude to the Governor, saying the gesture was historic.
“What we are really happy about is your sincerity,” he remarked.
Mrs. Lily Odion-Ugbesia and Mrs. Egharevba Kudirat also joined other respondents in thanking the Governor on behalf of the benefitting pensioners.
Highpoint was the presentation of checks of gratuities to some of the pensioners by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
