By Tope Bamidele.
Ekiti state govt has presented 100 million naira cheques to another 51 retired local govt staffs and primary school teachers as payment of gratuities to improve their standard of living.
At the ceremony in Ado Ekiti Governor kayode Fayemi said the payment was in fulfillment of govt promise to offset the outstanding gratuities of pensioners which would be done in phases.
Governor Fayemi through his Chief of Staff Mr Biodun Omoleye remarked that govt would never play politics with the welfare of its retirees following their meritorious contributions to the development of the state.
He told pensioners who have not benefitted from the payment of gratuities since its commencement that govt was working on their cases as it would now be a continuous exercise.
Governor Fayemi said govt would increase the monthly subvention to the pension office to accommodate more beneficiaries.
Earlier the Commissioner for Local Govt and Community Development Professor Adio Folayan said the idea was in continuation of govt pledged to offset the pensioners gratuities with a view to making them more comfortable.
Professor Folayan therefore urged the pensioners to utilise the money for better purposes.
Some of the Pensioners who spoke in an interview appreciated govt for the gesture and urged govt to let the payment reach all retirees.
