Pensioners’ Welfare Remains My Top Priority, Says Kwara Governor

Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting the welfare of pensioners in the state, promising to consider their requests for a vehicle and a permanent secretariat for their union.

The governor gave the assurance on Wednesday while playing host to the leadership of the state branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) at Ahmadu Bello House in Ilorin.

AbdulRazaq said he would work with the Head of Service to secure a permanent location for the union and address the issue of rent it currently pays.

“What you were given before was a certificate of temporary occupancy. They didn’t give you actual allocation, which meant that you were there temporarily and at the will of the government, they would move you. That’s why it was called CTO.

“Having said that, I’ll work with the Head of Service to make sure we find you a permanent place and we’ll sort out the issue of the rents you are currently paying. On the issue of the bus, we’ll sort that one out,” the governor said.

The meeting was attended by the Acting Head of Service, Dr Mercy Shittu; Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters, Alhaji Abdulmumeen Onagun; and Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hon. Suleiman Abubakar.

The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru, said the state government was up to date with pension payments, stressing that no pensioner in the state was being owed.

She also said the government had continued to make steady provisions for the payment of gratuities.

Nuru clarified, however, that pensioners who had not received their pensions for the period between 2015 and 2018 had yet to do so because they did not present themselves for verification.

“I will like to clarify that for those that have not received their pension between the period of 2015 and 2018 is because they didn’t come for verification,” she said.

Earlier, the state chairman of the NUP, Comrade Mahmud Oladimeji Saidu, commended the governor for prioritising the welfare of pensioners since the inception of his administration, particularly through the prompt payment of their pensions.

Saidu recalled that when AbdulRazaq assumed office, pensioners were receiving only portions of their salaries and pensions, with payments ranging between 25 and 50 per cent.

“Let me remind you, sir. When you came in, you met us with amputated salary, pensions (with payment of) 25 per cent, 50 per cent, and so on and so forth. When you came in, and we cried to you, you rescued us. You paid us all the outstanding amputated salaries running into more than four billions,” Saidu said.

He further explained that, before the current administration, pensioners received their payments around the second month, but that since May 2019, when AbdulRazaq took office, they had been receiving their pensions on or before the 25th of every month.

“You are not owing us any kobo. More grace to your elbow. Long life and prosperity,” Saidu said.