The Ogun State chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has expressed appreciation to the Governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for increasing the remittance of the N500m quarterly allocation earlier approved to offset pension arrears in the state.
According to a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the pensioners in a letter dated 5th December, 2022 and signed by their State Secretary, Dr. Bola Lawal, the union applauded Abiodun not only for the timely release of the money, but also expressed surprise at the kind gesture of the governor whom they said was so magnanimous with them to the point of increasing the money from N500 Million to N600 Million from the third quarter of the year 2022.
NUP in its letter said the governor’s gesture would go a long way at bringing comfort to the state pensioners, particularly at this period when their needs become so exigent.
The NUP letter with reference number: NUP/OG/ADMIN.14/CV93), reads in part: “Your Excellency, you promised that the N500 Million usual quarterly release of gratuity would be increased and so, the 3rd Quarter allocation of this year was increased by N100 Million. Thank you!”
The elderly citizens however, pleaded with Abiodun to extend his magnanimity to cover them in their much demanded Consequential Increase in Pension in order that their joy may be full.
As part of their solution towards offsetting the entire outstanding pensioners’ gratuity, the elderly citizens demanded that Abiodun should give approval for the state to obtain bond towards meeting up with their demands, stressing that Abiodun would have written his name in gold by doing so.
“It would be recalled that at one of the meetings between the union and government’s side, the idea of obtaining bond to offset the outstanding pensioners gratuity came into fore. It would be highly appreciated if this idea could be approved by Your Excellency, as this gesture would make your name to be written in gold”, the letter concluded