Retirees in Kwara under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Kwara state chapter have appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to as a matter of urgency settle the backlog arrears of statutory gratuities for Local Government retirees from 2011 to date.
In a statement jointly signed by the NUP chairman, Alhaji Saidu Oladimeji, and the Secretary, Comrade (Chief) Abraham Jona Gana (JP), the retirees called on the governor to settle their state counterparts from 2015 to date.
The people also asked the government to pay part payment of gratuities from 2000–2006 of the retired state workers, imploring the governor to allocate a substantial amount of funds to liquidate all these entitlements.
The union appealed to Governor Abdulrazaq to implement the consequential adjustment of pension arising from 30% national minimum wage, saying that the state workers have been enjoying the same since January 2022.
The group, which said that a new minimum wage is in the offing, added that there is urgent need to approve allocation of government land for new NUP secretariat through the State Geographic Information Service.
Meanwhile, as Governor Abdulrazaq, who doubles as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum marked first year of his second term in office, the NUP in the state congratulated him on the occasion, describing the first year of the second term in office as eventful, purposeful, peaceful and progressive.
The people said that Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration is impactful and full of good testimony to all Kwarans, explaining that the people of Kwara State had been witnessing tremendous growth and achievements they were yearning for within the last five years of his administration
The statement also described the governor as the People’s Governor, “because of his milestone and tremendous performance in office especially in the areas of education, health, agriculture, road maintenance and construction, water, sports development, Security, regular payment of salaries and pensions among others saying all these attributes have made his governance to be peaceful, fruitful, progressive and responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.
“The union particularly applauded the Governor for his interest and love for civil servants and pensioners in the state by paying their salaries and pension as at when due, worthy of mention is recent release of funds for settlement of arrears of salaries of Local Government and SUBEB pensioners.
“As you commence the second year in office of your second term, the Union prayed for your God’s favour sound health and divine wisdom to continue to serve the good people of Kwara State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.
“The Union also appealed to all the people of Kwara State to be fully supportive of the Governor through their cooperation and absolute loyalty saying that by so doing, the Governor will be able to perform more and take the state to the next level”.
