Labour

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State Council has described the recent release of two billion naira to its members by Governor Dapo Abiodun as evidence of his commitment to further reducing the backlog of accrued gratuities to pensioners in the state.

In a joint statement by the Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Oloyede and the Union’s Secretary, Dr Bola Lawal, the older citizens applauded the gesture, noting that the government had been sincere and humane to pensioners.

They acknowledged the regular and prompt payment of monthly pensions, the extension of the payment of 10,000 fuel subsidy palliatives by 9 months which ended in March 2024, as well as the inclusion of retirees among the beneficiaries of the government’s subsidized – rice sales outlet.

They also appealed to the State government to release the much awaited Consequential Increase in Pensions before the implementation of the proposed new wage increase in a bid to uplift the vulnerable and very aged few getting paltry earnings.

The Pensioners body expressed the hope that its members’ aspirations would be favourably attended to in no distant time, and promised their continued support to the present administration in the State.

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Labour

By Adenitan Akinola 

Three pensioners today collapsed in Osogbo during the ongoing staff audit exercise organized by the Osun State Government for its workers.

The incident, it was gathered, threw members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners NUP into confusion as they ran from helter-skelter to revive their collapsed colleagues.

It took the intervention of the medics of the State Ambulance Service to revive and stabilise the victims.

Retirees, numbering about 2,000 old men and women, who are visibly aged, frail and in some cases sick, were at the premises of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, the venue of the ongoing screening exercise.

A number of them who could not withstand a long time standing were seen, lying down, sleeping or sitting on the bare floor and the grass to avoid any eventuality.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, who was at the venue of the screening exercise, reports that many of the pensioners were visibly angry for what they described as inhuman treatment by the handlers of the exercise.

One of them, Mr Samuel Aduroroja decried the arrangement and the eventual treatment of his colleagues, who came for the exercise from across the state.

Though, he agreed that the exercise as sanctioned by the State government was desirable, but was of the opinion that the process would have been made easier if it were to be done on local government or zonal basis.

At press time, the exercise was yet to commence as the consultant in charge, Saadat Bakri-Ottun, was yet to arrive at the venue while the aged pensioners continued to wait endlessly.

The staff audit was earlier suspended for weeks by the State House of Assembly over the inhuman treatment meted out to the civil servants by the consultant, but the suspension was lifted after she promised to correct her mistakes.

Recall that pensioners had called on the state government to decentralize the staff audit of the state workforce.

The pensioners under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State Chapter said they were in the total support of the staff audit, but the government should put the aged and helpless retirees into consideration by decentralizing it.

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Culture

By Kayode Joseph

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Southwest Zone has berated a former president of the country, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for publicly disrespecting some traditional rulers in the state.

The elderly citizens who felt bad about the public humiliation asked the former president to publicly apologize to the traditional institution and desist from such immoral attitude.

The former President was reported to have ordered some monarchs to stand up and sit down during an inauguration of a road project by Governor Makinde, at Iseyin, Oyo State last week. Obasanjo has since been under attack over the act, which was considered to be an insult on the Yoruba Obas.

Speaking  in Ado Ekiti, the Public Relations Officer of the union, Dr. Olusegun Abatan said the elders would not fold its arms and allow anyone no matter how highly placed to desecrate the traditional institution which is one of the symbol of the Youba culture and tradition.

“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South-West zone frowns seriously at this action of His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. We hope that he is going to make amends with the Obas. It is not right to denigrate the tradition and culture of our land.”

While commending the Governors in the six South-West states for being pensioners-friendly, they called for harmonization and increment in the minimum leaving pension.

“We are requesting that our governors in the South-West to please address the payments of gratuities that have amounted to billions of Naira in the various states, payment of arrears of pensions and harmonization.

“We also want our governments in the South-West to address the issue of pension because we have pensioners in all the six states of the South-West that earn as little as 350, 500, 600 in some states. Pensioners want a minimum leaving pension of up to N40,000. We want harmonization of pension.”

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Labour

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Cheques worth N208 million has been issued to 92 pensioners in Oyo State on Monday as gratuities from the State government.
This, according to the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr Adeniyi Adebisi, is in fulfillment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s promise to the executives of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Chapter.

Mr Adebisi made the disclosure during an interactive session with the Executives of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Chapter and the symbolic presentation of cheques to some retirees.

He said the beneficiaries comprise State, Local Government and primary school retirees.

Mr Adebisi stated further that about 92 retirees have been shortlisted for the payment and release of cheques has commenced. 

The Commissioner explained that there is need for synergy and cooperation between the Nigerian Union of Pensioner and the Ministry of Establishments and Training, so as to make life better for Pensioners, while the Ministry is working on the review of pensions as directed by the Governor. 

He stated further that, the Oyo State Government believes in dialogue as against industrial action to avoid sending bad signals to the general public. 

Dialogue can resolve more than 50 percent of any problem no matter how big”, he said.

Adebisi added that the State Government is committed to the wellbeing and welfare of civil servants, as well as the retirees.

Earlier, in his remarks, the State Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr Olusegun Abatan stated that the loyalty of the Union to the State Government was demonstrated in the last gubernatorial election, when pensioners trooped out en-masse to vote for His Excellency, as a sign of appreciation.

Mr Abatan expressed his delight that the Governor fulfilled his promise to resume payment of gratuity and believes that the 13-points agenda presented by the Union would be executed one after the other especially now that the pension review is being looked into.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for paying their gratuities at this time of economic hardship and recession, praying that God will grant him more wisdom to move the State forward.

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Economy

By Wale Oluokun

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, in the South West Zone has appealed to the incoming administration at the federal level to create a separate ministry for retirees to properly address the challenges of senior citizens.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer of the union, Dr Olusegun Abatan while reading the communiqué of the pensioners after their quarterly meeting in Abeokuta stated that the retirees appealed to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to improve the welfare of the pensioners.

The pensioners while congratulating the re-elected governors in the South West urged all of them to implement the consequential adjustment and the thirty-five per cent increment in pension.

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Politics

By Wale Oluokun

The leadership of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State Chapter says, the union had not endorsed any gubernatorial candidates in this weekend’s election.

The state Chairman of the Union, Alhaji Waheed Oloyede while speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta explained that the union was open to all candidates as elders and not being carried away by the politicians’ pronouncements.

The Chairman stressed that coming from disappointments of the past, the retirees would be having the hope that whoever emerged as the state governor will honour his promises.

Earlier, the governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, Chief Ladipupo Adebutu had addressed, senior citizens promising that if elected, his government will source for funds to pay a substantial part of the owed gratuity arrears among other requests of the pensioners.

Governor Dapo Abiodun had also promised that, the senior citizens of an increment in their quarterly payment from Six hundred million naira to One billion naira and the monthly pension of those collecting five thousand naira to fifteen thousand naira.

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News

Pensioners across the southwest geo-political zones have lamented that five out of six State governments in the zone are owing them over two hundred and forty two billion naira in gratuities and pensions.
The retirees under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) who gathered in Akure, the Ondo State capital, berated the state governors except Lagos state government for abandoning them to suffer on daily basis as a result of unpaid entitlements

The senior citizens who spoke through the NUP Southwest Zonal Public Relations Officer and Oyo Stare Secretary of the Union, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, said despite allowing pensioners in their states to live in penury, some of the governors went ahead to obtain party nomination forms running to millions of naira. 
The pensioners also frowned at the manner at which the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had left the retirees to wallow in poverty after serving the nation diligently, advising the two labour unions to declare industrial disputes in states where pensioners were being owed.
On the 2023 general election, the pensioners charged their members across the southwest zone not to vote for politicians who do not cater for them.

Leke Adegbite

Lifestyle

Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South-West zone has passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the national President of the Union, Chief Godwin Abumisi.

The southwest NUP made this known after an emergency meeting of state chairmen, Secretaries and Leaders of the union to review Pensioners Day celebrations in their various states.

In a statement issued by Public Relations officer of southwest NUP, Mr. Olusegun Abatan, the union says Pensioners in the south West will resist any attempt from any quarters aimed at derailing the present national leadership of the Union

The Union also condemned the alleged disturbance of the Pensioners day celebration in Abuja by the Federal Civil Service Pensioners. 

The statement says the Federal Civil service Pensioners should employ all dispute settlement mechanisms and not resolving to area boy trade activism if they have grievances to be settled.

The southwest NUP therefore stressed the need for the Federal Civil Service Pensioners to be law abiding and not violate the Union’s Constitution. 

Olaolu Fawole

Economy

Pensioners in Oyo State have called for an upward review of their monthly pensions which was increased last in 2007.

The pensioners made the call at the commemoration of Pensioners’ Day held at Oyo State office of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Onireke, Ibadan. 

Speaking through the Oyo State secretary of the union, Mr. Olusegun Abatan, the pensioners described it as unfortunate that pensions which should be increased every five years have not been increased in Oyo State in the past fourteen years. 

Mr. Abatan commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the full payment of their monthly pensions and gratuities since he assumed office. 

He equally appealed to the state government to pay the state’s pensioners thirteenth-month pensions as an end-of-the-year gift to the senior citizens. 

Earlier, the Oyo State chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Alhaji Isiaka Abolade, had called on members of the union to always engage in exercises and eat moderately. 

Olaolu Fawole

News

Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South West, says some of their members are still being paid three hundred nairas as monthly pensions. 

The Pensioners made this known at the meeting of the southwest zone of the union held at Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. 

Reading the communique of the meeting, the Oyo state secretary of the Union, Mr Olusegun Abatan, said despite pleas to the state governments to review upward monthly pensions of their retirees, the state governments have been neglecting them

Mr Abatan who is also the southwest Public Relations officer of Nigeria Union of Pensioners said the union had given the state governments in the southwest till the end of the month to implement the adjusted consequential pensions.

He added that the union would decide on the next line of action if their demands were not meant.

The southwest meeting of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners had in attendance its national President, Chief Godwin Abumisi and other national executives. 

Olaolu Fawole 

Economy

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has distributed 500 million naira to offset the backlog of gratuity and pensions of retirees in the state and local government services.

While presenting the cheques to some retirees at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun, said the step was a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to fulfil its promises to all workers in the state, particularly the retirees.


Governor Abiodun explained that distribution of 500 million naira to pensioners signalled the commencement of the payment process for all the retirees, adding that apart from the payment of monetary entitlements, his administration was committed to providing other opportunities for the retirees under the state’s social welfare scheme.

While commending members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Ogun State Chapter for their understanding and patience, the governor gave the assurance that his administration would continue to give priority to their welfare.

In a remark, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State Chapter, Mr Waheed Oloyede appreciated the State government for wiping their tears and called for the increase of the quarterly payment from 500 million to 1 billion naira.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Taiwo Abraham, commended Governor Abiodun for alleviating their sufferings, adding that the governor had fulfilled his electioneering promise to pensioners.


Bolanle Adesida

Lifestyle

Members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, in Osun State has lauded the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for taking their welfare and well-being as a priority.

The retirees in the state also showered encomiums on the governor for counting them worthy of benefiting from the rice component donated to the state by the Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 (CA-COVID).

About 4, 000 pensioners in the Osun State received CA-COVID 10kg bags of rice donated to the state to cushion the adverse effects of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

Some of the retirees who addressed the journalists during the distribution at the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, applauded the distribution strategy adopted by the state government to ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives.

A retiree, Mr Alabi Rafiu, expressed profound appreciation to Governor Oyetola for taking the general welfare of the citizens, particularly pensioners, as a priority.

Mr Rafiu who represented Local Governments and Primary Schools retirees, attributed the gesture to the love that the government had for senior citizens, particularly the retirees and the vulnerable.

Another pensioner, Mr Gbadebo Adegboye, appreciated the kind gesture of the Osun State government over the palliatives.

Mr Adegboye who spoke on behalf of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, and Secondary Schools pensioners, maintained that the gesture was a reflection of the passion which the government had for the retirees.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr Bode Olaonipekun, disclosed that the state had distributed over 30,000 out of the expected 40,000 10kg bags of the CA-COVID rice so far.

He said the state would not rest on its oars to ensure adequate distribution of the rest of the rice upon receipt, adding that the state was committed to continually upholding and guaranteeing the general welfare and well-being of the citizens.

Adenitan Akinola

Lifestyle

The acting Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Oyo State Council, Alhaji Isiaka Abolade, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Union in Oyo state.

Alhaji Abolade emerged the new state helmsman at the state delegates’ conference held in Ibadan.

Earlier, the other contestant for the position of Chairman, Chief Samson Adeleye had withdrawn from the race.

In his acceptance speech, Chief Abolade assured that his tenure would continue to make welfare of pensioners top priority.

Speaking with newsmen, State Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr Olusegun Abatan, stated that the election was hitch-free due to the maturity of the members. 

The new state exco of Nigeria Union of Pensioners will be in charge of the state affairs of the union for the next four years.

Olaolu Fawole

Economy

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says seven point five billion naira has been paid as gratuities since inception of his administration.

Governor Makinde made this known in Ibadan at the celebration of Pensioners Day organized by the Oyo State Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Alhaji Sikiru Titilola Sodo, Governor Makinde pointed out that the state government would not relent in giving priority to the welfare of pensioners. 

Earlier, the Oyo State secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr Olusegun Abatan, had commended the state government for prompt payment of pensions to retirees as soon as they disengage from civil service.

Olaolu Fawole

Sport

The maiden edition of the Oyo SWAN-Pensioners Indoor Games has ended in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, with contestants going home with prizes, certificates and memories that will linger on for a long time.

The event which began on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP headquarters, Africa’s Model House, Onireke also formed part of a reunion for the participants. 

While declaring the tournament closed, the Oyo State Executive Secretary of the Union, Mr Olusegun Abatan said next year’s edition will cut across all pensioners in the state.

Mr Abatan, who commended Oyo SWAN for organising such laudable sporting event said engaging in sports by senior citizens remain a factor that assist in making old people live longer.

Earlier, Chairman, Oyo State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr Olaolu Fawole commended the participants for their efforts, endurance and spirit of sportsmanship throughout the programme. 

At the end of the competition, Tokunbo Britto emerged winner in the Draught event, Banji Kolesho came second while Princess Aina Sandy clinched the bronze medal.

In the Cards category, Muili Solaja won gold, Mojeed Adejumo came second, while former International Table Tennis Player and Coach, Sola Abiodun went home with bronze medal.

Okunola Adeshina outclassed Funke Ibijoju in the final of Ayo Olopon to emerge winner, while Veronica Akinola settled for the third position.

The programme also witnessed presentation of certificates to members of Oyo SWAN for their active roles in the planning and execution of the 2020 Oyo SWAN Pensioners Indoor Games.

Adedayo Adelowo

Economy

Pensioners in the South-West of Nigeria have lamented the nonchalant attitude of some state governors in the zone to the well-being of their retirees.

The pensioners made this known in a communique issued in Ibadan at the South West zonal meeting of state chairmen and secretaries.

Reading the communique, the Oyo State Secretary of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Mr Olusegun Abatan said many pensioners have been dying due to hunger and ill-health.

According to Mr Abatan, it was so inhumane that some retirees are still earning as low as three hundred naira as monthly pension.

He called on state governors to give an upward review to monthly pensions of retirees in their states.

The pensioners equally called on the federal government to address all issues concerning the agitations of the #EndSARS protesters.

Olaolu Fawole