Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has assured of his administration’s readiness to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000.
The governor assured Ado Ekiti during the weekend’s distribution of gratuity cheques totalling N3.5 billion to retirees in the state.
Speaking at the event, which coincided with this year’s edition of Pensioners’ Day, he described the new minimum wage as a law that must be obeyed.
Governor Oyebanji, however, noted that the state is experiencing a slight delay owing to the need to combine pensioners, teachers, state workers, and local government workers.
He said over 500 pensioners benefitted from the latest tranche of payments, with a N2.3 billion gratuity paid to state pensioners and a N1.2 billion gratuity paid to local government pensioners.
With the payment of gratuity to the latest batch of pensioners, the governor has shown commitment to defraying outstanding gratuity with the backlog cleared to March 2015 up from payment up to 2012 he met on assumption of office in October 2022.
The Governor said: “On your gratuity payment, I don’t think I have done anything spectacular. You are my parents, and it is only a bastard who 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. I desire that you are alive to collect your gratuity and every other entitlement 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 of date, our administration has paid the sum of N5,400,000,000 to1,796 state Pensioners and the sum of N2,179,110,000.46 to 891 pensioners at the local government level. “Today, I will be flagging off additional payment of N2.3 billion to State Pensioners and N1.2 billion to local government pensioners totalling N3.5 billion.
This is another demonstration of our administration’s commitment to your welfare. I urge you to continuously pray for the success of this administration so that we shall continue to do more for you.”
