The Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Kogi state chapter, has expressed its deepest appreciation to Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo for restoring the payment of 100% pension to pensioners in the Local Government level after several years of percentage payment.
The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Kogi State Council, Engr. Clement Ohida, who gave the appreciation while speaking to newsmen, said the Union wants to express her deepest gratitude to the State Governor for listening to the plea of pensioners at the Local Government level.
He said: “We thank Gov. Ododo for bringing us to this level of payment of 100% pension after several years. By this feat he has proven to be pensioners friendly and we are not taking it for granted.
“We equally want to appreciate the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Deedat Ozigi Salami for his effort, working with Gov. Ododo towards ensuring that our cries and tears of several years is addressed.
“The Union has been agitating for this level of payment for quite sometime and we are pleased that it has been effected by the April payment of pension by Gov. Ododo.
“With this development, the pensioners cannot do otherwise but to appreciate the Governor for his kind gesture and wished him every success while piloting the affairs of the State.
“We cannot hide our joy. The administration is Pensioners friendly. The administration has proven that the sad narratives face by Pensioners in the past has become a thing of the past.
“We also want to appreciate and thank Gov. Ododo for the appointment of one of our own, Comrade Onuh Edoka as the Special Adviser on Labour Matters. Comrade Onuh Edoka is a Labour Chairman Emeritus and his appointment is in the right direction.
“Gov. Ododo has thus far really shown that he is the people’s Governor and he has shown that he is a labour friendly Governor by all his actions and policies.
“We believe that the Governor is working and Kogi State is working. We as a Union will continue to partner with the Government and we believe that other issues we have presented before the Government in the tine past will be addressed and actualized in the shortest possible time.
“We look forward to the present administration addressing the issues of harmonization and gratuity of Pension for the Local Government”.
The NUP Chairman called on members to continue to pray and support the administration of Gov Ododo, pointing out that he means well for the State, particularly, workers and Pensioners at the Local Government level.
