Kwara gov pledges permanent secretariat, bus for pensioners

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has promised to provide pensioners in the state with a permanent secretariat and a bus, while pledging to address concerns over rent paid for their current office accommodation.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood Agboola, the governor made the promises on Tuesday in Ilorin during a meeting with the leadership of the Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners.

AbdulRazaq explained that the union’s existing office was secured through a Certificate of Temporary Occupancy CTO, which did not grant permanent ownership or allocation of the property.

He said the government would work with the Head of Service to secure a permanent office for the pensioners and resolve the issue of rent.

“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,” the governor said.

The Commissioner for Finance, Hauwa Nuru, said the state 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 required verification exercise.

“I would like to clarify that those who have not received their pensions for the period between 2015 and 2018 did not come for verification,” she said.

The NUP chairman, Mahmud Saidu, commended the governor for improvements in pension administration since he assumed office in May 2019.

Saidu recalled that pensioners had previously experienced partial salary payments and pension arrears, with some receiving only 25 or 50 per cent of their entitlements.

He said the AbdulRazaq administration subsequently settled outstanding salary deductions amounting to more than N4bn.

The union chairman added that pensioners had received their salaries regularly since May 2019, usually on or before the 25th of each month.

“You are not owing us any kobo. More grace to your elbow. Long life and prosperity,” Saidu said.