Makinde Flags Off Construction of Local Govt. and Pension Board Secretariat

The Local Government Staff Pension Board and the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission were filled with joy and in turn, showered praises on Gov. Makinde the Governor of Oyo State on Friday who flagged off the construction of a Secretariat Complex for both agencies.

This is the first of its kind since the creation of the state 44yrs ago. The flagging off ceremony which was held at the project site, behind the Water Corporation Building Secretariat Complex in Ibadan witnessed a large number of attendance, which includes the state executive council members, members of the 2 agencies and other prominent personalities.

This event was one of the activities lined up to serve his first year in office and it afforded the staff of the Commission and the Pension Board, to express so much gratitude to the Water Corporation Building management and staff, where they were domiciled for 4 decades.

Equally, the staff expressed appreciation to Makinde the Governor of Oyo State for granting approval for the commencement of works on the site, which they say is long overdue

Governor Makinde reiterated that his administration’s commitment towards bettering the situation of the state’s civil servants by providing a friendly and good working environment for the committed workers to further boost their effectiveness and level of productivity.

Makinde further maintained that his administration will continue to provide an enabling workforce for workers in the state and he assured that the construction project would be completed and commissioned in 11 months’ time.

He also disclosed that a substantial amount has been raised for completion of the project, while lauding the initiative of the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mr. Akin Funmilayo, for bringing up the idea of the project Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission/Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. Aderemi Ayodele noted that the achievements of the governor cut across all sectors, adding that they have brought positive changes not only to the lives of both civil/public servants in the state, but the masses at large.

He thanked the governor, for restoring the lost glory of both agencies, through the resuscitation of training and retraining programmes for unified personnel, aimed at enhancing their performance. The Chairman said: “About 2,000 workers have so far been trained by the commission to enhance their efficiency in service delivery.”

“Monthly release of a sum of N240 million only for the payment of gratuities of retired Primary School Teachers and local government staff, as well as payment of 100 percent monthly pensions to our senior citizens, as against payment in percentages by the immediate-past administration is also worth mentioning.”

“To this end, a sum of N3.5 billion had been paid so far as gratuities to retirees by this administration in the last seven months, courtesy the magnanimity of our dear Governor.”

“The Commission and Pension Board had been tenants in the Water Corporation Building for about four decades now, without any administration deeming it fit to construct a permanent secretariat for the two agencies,” he recalled.

In separate goodwill messages, the governor was commended for his administration’s achievements in the last one year, which they said were unique.

In his remark, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensions (NUP), Oyo State chapter, Mr. Segun Abatan, disclosed that the governor had paid N1.98 billion as gratuities to retired workers at the miniseries, department, agencies, and parastatals in the state since he assumed office barely a year ago.

He noted that Gov. Makinde had also paid retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners, a whooping N3.2 billion, making N5.1 million in all, within one year of what he called a purposeful administration. In a similar remark, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Mr. Titilola-Sodo, said the governor has been able to lift the standard of living of civil servants in the state, through his prompt payment of salaries.

He added that workers, as well as masses in the state, are solidly behind his administration while assuring the governor of unalloyed support, commitment, and cooperation of civil servants to his government