Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has emphasized his administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of pensioners in the state, noting that their welfare remains an integral part of his government’s policies.
The governor stated this during the unveiling of an ambulance acquired by the state council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) for its Sure Health Care Hospital located at Agbarigo, in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of the state.
Represented by the Chairman of the State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Akeem Ige on behalf of the governor, commended the union’s leadership for the initiative, noting that the union had demonstrated that it was a partner in the development of the state through projects and programmes targeted at improving the lives of senior citizens.
His words, “Oyo NUP is the pride of pensioners in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole. I want to use this medium to applaud Oyo NUP for constructing a magnificent building called Pensioners’ House, establishing Pensioners FM radio station and Sure Health Hospital, among other programmes for its members.
“Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board is pleased to identify with the union and congratulate it on the acquisition of the ambulance. This administration has enrolled pensioners in the state into the health insurance scheme at no cost, while also refunding enrolment fees deducted from pensioners in 2022. The monthly allocation of the pension board has been increased from N250 million to N3 billion to facilitate the payment of gratuities and death benefits”.
Other interventions, according to him, included the payment of N50,000 Christmas bonuses to pensioners and N10,000 transport support funds, among other welfare packages.
“I want to assure you that Seyi Makinde-led government will continue to put smiles on your faces by continuing to provide welfare packages to make life more meaningful for retirees in the state,” he said.
Earlier, the state Secretary of NUP, Olusegun Abatan, said the NUP acquired the ambulance through its own resources after its request to the state government for an ambulance and the solarisation of the hospital did not receive a response.
He recalled that Sure Health Care Hospital was established on December 4, 2024, and commissioned by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Makinde at the occasion.
Abatan said the union, in line with its longstanding policy of self-reliance, mobilised its members to raise funds for the purchase of the ambulance, saying, “Twenty months after the establishment of our hospital, I am pleased to invite you to witness the unveiling of an ambulance bought by the union for the hospital.
“More than 120 people are currently working directly or indirectly under the union’s various establishments, including its radio station,” he added.
Abatan, therefore, appealed to the State Government to support the union with an 18-seater bus, funding for the annual Pensioners’ Day celebration and the solarisation of the hospital.
“For complete seven years and three months, Oyo State has enjoyed unequalled labour peace. It is quite unprecedented, particularly from pensioners,” Abatan said.
Also speaking, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kayode Martins, commended the union for acquiring the ambulance and praised Abatan for his leadership.
