Ekiti pensioners will no longer cry over entitlements — Fayemi

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said  on Monday that his administration would soon put in place creative measures aimed at clearing the backlog of pensioners’ gratuities.

According to him, the era when pensioners will  cry or pray  before getting what is statutorily due to them on monthly basis is over.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi spoke at a meeting with the executive members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

Fayemi  expressed displeasure at the condition  of the pensioners, noting that it was a consequence of non-payment of their gratuities and irregularity in  payment of pension.

NAN reports that the pensioners  led by their chairman, Ayo Kumapayi, had visited  the governor to congratulate him on  his recent victory at the Court of Appeal which had affirmed his election.

The governor said his administration had effected  a 100 per cent increase in the fund meant for gratuity payment.

According to him, the sum has been increased  from N10 million  to N100million  monthly in order to capture more pensioners in the process.

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“ What we are doing right now is mainly a stop gap measure to ensure that the number of people who can access gratuity increases because how many retirees can N10million cater for even if it is N2 million gratuity that everyone is entitled to?

” Then barely four people would benefit,’’  he said

Fayemi also restated the resolve of his administration to establish recreational facilities for the elderly.

“I am particularly pleased that you are taking a broader look at support mechanism for your members.

“A wellness centre is a very well thought out idea and I recall that we’ve discussed at some point  the possibility of a facility as a home

“ Of course, we are not used to the white man’s  attitude of going to a home.

“We want to take care of our elderly in our own way as much as possible through facilities that can be a community for elderly pensioners and  used for recreational purposes.

“ So your wellness centre definitely is something that can fit into that idea of a recreational facility for pensioners and the elderly in Ekiti State

“I also find the idea of your type of early child’s scheme for pensioners who are obviously over 60 years reasonable , I think it’s a great idea and we have to explore that,’’ he said.

Earlier, Kumapayi said the purpose of the visit was to felicitate with the governor on his victory at the Appeal Court as well as appreciate him for his support to pensioners so far.

Ikumapayi commended the government for prompt payment of pension allowances and approval of immediate increase in the monthly gratuity fund from N10million  to N100million  monthly.

According to him, the gesture has allowed for more retirees to be catered for every month.

He, however, appealed to government to support the pensioners by establishing a wellness centre for retirees to enable them to  live long after retirement.

NAN