Governor Seyi Makinde has stated the commitment of his administration towards the treatment of retirees and senior citizens with dignity.

The Governor made this disclosure at the 2nd phase of the official flag-off ceremony for the payment of gratuity to the retired Local Government staff and retired primary school teachers. The Executive Assistant to the Governor, Rev Idowu Ogedengbe, who stood in for the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Honourable Segun Ogunwuyi stated this while delivering the Governor’s message at the event.

He disclosed that among all the states in the federation, Governor Seyi Makinde has made the highest gratuity payment towards offsetting the outstanding amounts being owed by successive administrations, a feat that led to his conferment with the award of Excellence in Governance by the national body of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.

He stated further that the present administration will not only continue to pay the retired workers their due entitlements but will do so in a dignifying manner that ensures that they are not subject to undue inconveniences, which in time past led to cases of untimely deaths among our senior citizens.

He intimated that following the recent visit by the DG of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro, and the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Ms Claudia Mahler, the government of Oyo State is already in the process of domesticating the National Senior Citizens Act which will further make life more dignifying for our retirees and senior citizens.

Speaking further, he revealed that part of the plans of the present Administration is to provide the necessary capacity building resources under the State Human Capital Development programme, that will expose retirees and retiring public servants to various after retirement prospects that suit their individual passions. “This is in line with our belief that our retirees still have so much value to deliver to our State and nation”

At the end of the flag off ceremony, some retirees were presented cheques of varied amounts as their gratuities.

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