KWARA STATE GOVERNOR PLEDGES NEW SECRETARIAT, BUS FOR RETIREES
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has pledged to provide pensioners in the state with a permanent secretariat and a bus, while promising to resolve concerns over rent payments for their current office accommodation.
The governor made the commitments on Tuesday in Ilorin during a meeting with the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood Agboola.
AbdulRazaq explained that the union’s existing office was provided under a Certificate of Temporary Occupancy, which did not grant permanent ownership or allocation of the property.
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He said the arrangement meant the pensioners could occupy the building temporarily and might be required to vacate it at the government’s discretion.
“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,” the governor said.
He added that he would work with the Head of Service to secure a permanent office for the union and address the rent currently being paid for its accommodation.
“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,” he said.
The statement also quoted the state Commissioner for Finance, Hauwa Nuru, as saying that the government was up to date with pension payments and continued to make provisions for gratuities.
Nuru attributed the non-payment of pensions to some retirees between 2015 and 2018 to their failure to participate in the mandatory verification exercise.
“I would 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.
Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mahmud Saidu, commended the governor for what he described as improvements in pension administration since the commencement of his administration in May 2019.
Saidu recalled that pensioners faced partial salary payments and pension arrears before the current administration assumed office.
He said the government subsequently settled outstanding salary deductions amounting to more than N4bn.
“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 added that pension payments had previously been delayed until the second month, but claimed that workers had received their salaries on or before the 25th of each month since May 2019.
“Since May 2019 when you came in, we have been getting our salary on or before 25th of every month. You are not owing us any kobo. More grace to your elbow. Long life and prosperity,” he said.
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