In a move hailed as a significant step towards prioritizing the welfare of senior citizens, Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo has approved the payment of gratuity and death benefits to the family of the late Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state. The compassionate approval fulfills a prior promise made by the governor.
The disbursement, overseen by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir (Dr.) Lucky Eseigbe, at the Ministry’s premises in Benin City, underscores the administration’s commitment to prioritizing pension and gratuity payments regardless of political affiliation.
Related News: Edo Indigenes in FCT Laud Gov. Okpebholo’s Governance, Infrastructural Development
“This administration has resolved to prioritize the payment of Pensions and Gratuities without political bias,” Sir (Dr.) Eseigbe stated, representing Governor Okpebholo.
Governor Okpebholo acknowledged the inherited backlog of unpaid gratuities but emphasized his administration’s resolve to ensure retirees receive their due entitlements while still alive. To that end, the state government has significantly increased the monthly allocation for pension payments from N100 million to N1 billion.
“The ongoing disbursement includes Pensioners from the 2012 batch, with plans already in place to reach the 2013 batch and beyond within the next couple of months,” the governor explained, detailing the administration’s phased approach. He further announced that cheque distributions would continue at the Local Government Staff Pensions Board.
“All other beneficiaries would collect their cheques at the Pensions Board, as additional batches are still being compiled,” he added.
Related News: Edo Government Doubles Down on Local Governance, Prioritizes Security and Grassroots Development
Responding to the gesture, Mrs. Helen Eboigbodin, the widow of the late Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Okpebholo for his unwavering support, citing the employment opportunity extended to her daughter as well as the fulfillment of other promises. “God to guide the Governor in successfully piloting the affairs of the State,” she prayed.
Comrade Samuel Okhuelegbe, the Edo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), lauded Governor Okpebholo’s “magnanimity,” emphasizing that the action demonstrates the state government’s commitment to honoring its promises and valuing the contributions of its senior citizens.
Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel, representing the Civil Society Community in Edo State, praised the Governor for setting a positive example and called for the immortalization of the late Comrade Eboigbodin to serve as a lasting tribute to his contributions.
The event was witnessed by key stakeholders, including Hon. Francis Akhigbe, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission; management of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; management of the Local Government Staff Pensions Board; executives of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP); executives of the Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPENAS); Edo State NLC Chairman, Comrade Bernard Joman; Edo State Chairman of the Public Service Negotiating Council JNC, Comrade Godwin Oisamaiye; and representatives of the Civil Society Community.
