Aiyedatiwa Praised For Improving Welfare Of Ondo Pensioners

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ondo State has praised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his administration’s dedication to the welfare of retirees.

The commendation came during the union’s Pensioners’ Day celebration held in Akure.

State Chairman of the NUP, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, expressed gratitude to the governor for ensuring regular payment of pensions, clearing arrears, and improving the financial well-being of retirees. He said the administration had brought relief to pensioners who previously received only a fraction of their entitlements.

Osunyemi noted that Aiyedatiwa’s government ended the era of percentage pension payments and restored full, timely disbursements. He also said the state implemented the 30 percent harmonisation and consequential salary adjustment based on the 2018 wage review.

According to him, the administration raised the minimum monthly pension from as low as ₦1,500 to ₦30,000, with no pensioner currently earning below ₦35,000. In recognition of his efforts, the NUP conferred on Governor Aiyedatiwa the Grand Patron Award for his commitment to retirees’ welfare.

The union also honoured the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo Local Government Pension Transitional Department, Dr. Mercy Olayinka Femi-Idris, for her leadership and dedication. Under her supervision, the department issued digital identity cards to pensioners for the first time and introduced weekly health checkups and treatment sessions every Wednesday to improve their well-being. She received the Outstanding Administrative Excellence Award.

Similarly, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was given the Most Distinguished Humanitarian Patron Award for his philanthropic contributions and advocacy for pensioners. Osunyemi commended his reforms in the interior ministry, describing them as impactful in strengthening national security, immigration, and correctional services.

The NUP chairman further appealed to the state government to provide an official vehicle for the union and fix the 1.5-kilometre access road to its secretariat from Oda Road in Akure.

Representing the governor at the event, Chief of Staff Prince Segun Omojuwa reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to retirees’ welfare, saying pensioners deserve comfort and stability after years of service. He said Aiyedatiwa’s government had made prompt pension payments a permanent practice, adding that governance must reflect compassion and fairness to those who served the state faithfully.