Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that his administration is committed to the welfare and wellbeing of pensioners across Oyo state.

The governor stated this Tuesday while speaking at the unveiling of an ambulance acquired by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo state council, for its Sure Health Care Hospital in Agbarigo, Ibadan.

Speaking through the chairman of the Oyo state Local Government Staff Pensions Board, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, the governor, pointed out that their welfare was an integral part of his government’s policies.

He described the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo state Council as the pride of pensioners in the South-west and Nigeria for embarking on magnificent projects such as building Pensioners’ House, establishing Pensioners FM radio station and Sure Health Hospital, among other programmes for its members.

“Oyo NUP is the pride of pensioners in the South-west and Nigeria as a whole. I want to use this medium to applaud Oyo NUP for constructing a magnificent building called Pensioners’ House, establishing Pensioners FM radio station and Sure Health Hospital, among other programmes for its members,” he said 

Governor Makinde added that the union had demonstrated that it was a partner in the development of the state through projects and programmes targeted at improving the lives of senior citizens.

Lauding the NUP Oyo state chairman, James Oyadotun, and the secretary, Comrade Dr Olusegun Abatan, for their visionary and selfless leadership, Gov Makinde said the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board was pleased to identify with the union and congratulate it on the acquisition of the ambulance.

He assured that his administration would continue to introduce policies and programmes aimed at making life more meaningful for retirees in the state and continue to introduce policies and programmes aimed at making life more meaningful for retirees.

He stated that the administration had enrolled pensioners in the state into the health insurance scheme at no cost, while also refunding enrolment fees deducted from pensioners in 2022.

 He added that the monthly allocation of the pension board had been increased from N250 million to N3 billion to facilitate the payment of gratuities and death benefits.

Oyo state Secretary of NUP, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, said the union acquired the ambulance through its own resources after its request to the state government for an ambulance and the solarisation of the hospital did not receive a response.

Comrade Abatan said the union, in line with its longstanding policy of self-reliance, mobilised its members to raise funds for the purchase of the ambulance.