The newly appointed Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board Hon Akeem Ademola Ige has given assurance that the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde led administration will continue to accord great priority to workers and pensioners’ welfare in the state.
Hon Akeem Ademola Ige gave the assurance while playing host to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in their separate courtesy visits paid to his office at Secretariat, Ibadan this afternoon.
The chairman who recalled that Governor Makinde has kept to his avowed promise he made on assumption of office in 2019 that no state workforce or retiree will go hungry or deny their entitlement throughout his tenure in office, appreciated members of the two unions and the people in the state for reciprocating Governor Makinde’s gesture for giving him second term chance which is quite unprecedented in the history of Oyo State.
In his words” since May 2019 when Governor Seyi Makinde came on board, he has prioritized payment of staff salaries and pensioners alike on or before the 25th of every month and that is what makes his administration popular among the comity of states in the federation because you are promoting his achievement in this aspect.
Therefore, I want to assure you that His Excellency will continue to give prompt attention to issues of the pensioners and workers alike in Oyo state especially that of the local government staff and retirees till the end of his tenure and I’m hopeful it will continue like that after the end of his tenure.
While appreciating the NULGE for the grand reception that the union organized to welcome him to his office, Hon. Ige assured that there will be a robust relationship between his office, the NULGE and the NUP to transform the board in line with the vision of Gov. Seyi Makinde administration.
In his speech, the state President of NULGE, Com. Ayobami Adeogun stressed that the union organized such befitting reception to show their total acceptability of the new board chairman and to express appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde who out of his sheer wisdom appointed a right peg in round hole in person of Hon Akeem Ademola Ige as the board Chairman describing him as a consummate administrator and complete grassroot politician that can man lead the board to enviable heights.
He thereafter prayed God to grant him the needed wisdom and grace to succeed in office.
Comrade Ayobami Adeogun then used the occasion to appeal to the state government to grant approval for the recruitment of staff to all the thirty three Local Governments in Oyo State just as his recent approval to recruit 7000 teachers to fill the vacancy at the primary school level in the state.
Also speaking in the same vein, the state Chairman and secretary Comrade of the NUP, Com. Isiaka Abolade and Com. Segun Abatan expressed their gratitude to the present government under the leadership of Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for prompt payment pension and backlog of gratuity of pensioners since 2019.
Also speaking at the event, the state NUP Chairmen Primary School Teachers Wing, and Local Government Staff Wing, ,Comrade Dosu Akinpelu and Dr Taiwo Ayanlowo prayed that Almighty God will grant the chairman the wherewithal to succeed in office.
All the NUP Executives who spoke at the courtesy visit highlighted some of the welfare packages being enjoyed by the pensioners and they also presented some challenges which need the attention of the Governor to the Board Chairman.
Earlier in his opening remarks during the separate unions’ visits, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina appreciated the State NULGE and NUP executives for their support and cooperation to the management of the Board.
In another development, handing over note of the activities in the board was presented to the Chairman, Hon. Ige by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Luqman Akinola in the presence of other top management and other staffers of the board.
At the handing over ceremony which was held at the conference hall of the board on Monday, the chairman warned the staff against involving in sharp practices that could tarnish the image of the Board, enjoining them to be more dedicated to their duties and continue to be loyal to the present government with a promise that all loyal, dedicated and outstanding staff will definitely get rewards and promotion during his tenure as the board chairman.
Among the dignitaries that graced the two occasions were the newly appointed Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture, Hon Adebayo Omolara, Hon Sunday Babatunde, Secretary Ibadan South East Local Government, all the newly elected councillors in Ibadan South East Local Government, members of retired Heads of Local Government Administrators, all directors in the board and a host of others.
