May 12, (THEWILL) – The Governorship Candidate of the Accord Party (AP), in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, Basorun Reuben Famuyibo (BRF), on Thursday, held an interactive session with the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, where the pensioners reached an accord with the gubernatorial candidate to work with him to achieve his aim of becoming the next governor of Ekiti State.
The interactive session, which held at the state secretariat of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, afforded the pensioners the opportunity to present what their state Chairman, Comrade Joel Olomi Akinola titled: ‘Pensioners’ Plight’ to Basorun Famuyibo, who also responded, with a pledge of better life for pensioners, if he becomes the governor of Ekiti State.
According to Comrade Akinola, pensioners in Ekiti are suffering, with local government pensioners being owed an outstanding pension of seven months, while other categories of pensioners are being owed not less than three months arrears of pension.
Other grievances of the pensioners included: non-payment of gratuities since 2013; non-conformity of the state with the payment of pension in consonance with the National Minimum Wage, among others.
The pensioners also craved the creation of a Ministry of the Elderly, to cater to the needs of the aged and pensioners, which will represent their interest in government.
Comrade Akinola lamented that over 35 percent of pensioners are not alive to collect the reward of their hard labour of service
Responding, Basorun Famuyibo explained that if given the opportunity to govern Ekiti State, pensioners will get their reward here on earth and not when they are dead.
He went down memory lane to jog the memory of the pensioners about his role in the creation of Ekiti State, lamenting that the history of how Ekiti State became a reality is being distorted for political gains.
He said his Seven Point Agenda, which is premised on SHELTER – Security and Quality of Life; Health and Wellness; Education, Technology and Youth Development; Low Cost Housing and Environment; Tourism and Entertainment; Economic Development and Infrastructure; and Road and Transportation – will take care of every facet of the Ekiti economy and socio political sustenance.
He challenged the pensioners that they have a role to play in the emancipation of the state from looters, who have looted the state blind, by voting massively for the Accord Party on June 18; adding that his administration will not only take care of pensioners, but create enabling environment for workers to be trained on small scale industries, preparatory to their eventual retirement to make life sweeter for them in retirement.
The pensioners pledged their support for the aspiration of Basorun Famuyibo to become the next governor of the Fountain of Knowledge.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
