Gov Adeleke Presents N2.1b bond Certificates To Retirees

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday presented bond certificates worth 2.1 billion naira to State, Local Government and Primary School Teachers’ retirees in the State.

This was done in line with his aspiration to see to the welfare of workers and retirees in Osun.

Adeleke while presenting the certificates said that the presentation was necessary as his administration is poised on correcting the errors of the past, noting that it was his electoral promise to prioritize workers’ and retiree’s welfare if elected, so as to deliver them from past hardships.

He stressed that the payment template which his government has drawn is still in force, stating that even when paucity of funds was threatening the implementation, he insisted that the senior citizens must be satisfied.

He then assured the retirees that he will never play politics with their welfare.

The State helmsman equally stated that since his assumption of office, he has been satisfying both young and old, through denying himself of some accouterments of office, in order to serve the interest of residents of Osun.

While assuring the retirees that his administration is working on enrolling them under free health insurance scheme,the Governor appealed to them to exercise more patience, saying he has them in mind and remain resolute to do everything possible to make life more comfortable for them.

In his address of welcome, the State Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina thanked the Governor for prioritizing workers’ welfare by paying salaries and gratuities to the retirees in the State.

He described the Governor as a selfless, kind-hearted and compassionate man who always shows concern about peoples’ welfare, adding that in less than one year in office, Governor Adeleke has transformed the State for the better.

Aina stressed further that since last year November that the Governor came on board, he has changed the fortunes of both active workers and retirees for good by approving the upward review of retiree’s gratuities,under the old pension scheme, by one hundred and fifty percent, that is from #200,000 to #500,000, while pensioners, under the contributory pension scheme,have started enjoying one hundred percent increase, that is, from #125m to #250m monthly.

He lauded him for paying the backlog of half salaries inherited from the previous administration at least once in every quarter of the year.

The number one civil servant, on behalf of workers, however pledged their unflinching support to the present administration in the State.

In their separate goodwill message, representative of Pension Funds Administrator (PFA), Mr Babatunde Ayodeji and Comrade Lasun Akindele, on behalf of Labour, congratulated the retirees for the grace to witness the day hale and healthy. They also appreciated the Governor for making impossibility possible in terms of workers’ welfare and cash backing of promotion arrears.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Aderinola Joseph thanked the Governor for keeping them in mind. He appealed to the Governor to assist in paying the remaining backlog of half salaries to other retirees, who are yet to be captured for the bond certificate collection so as to enable them have something to fall back on.

In his words, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Pension Bureau, Mr Akibu Ibrahim gave kudos to the Governor for giving the release of the bond certificate speedy approval.

He noted that Mr Governor is an asset to the State, acknowledging that residents are enjoying his good works across the length and breath of State.