Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has promised to provide pensioners in the state with a permanent secretariat and a bus, while pledging to resolve concerns over rent payments for their current office accommodation.

The governor made the commitments on Tuesday in Ilorin during a meeting with the leadership of the state branch of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), according to a statement issued on Wednesday by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood Agboola.

AbdulRazaq explained that the union’s existing office was secured through a Certificate of Temporary Occupancy (CTO), which did not grant permanent ownership or allocation of the property.

“What you were given before was a certificate of temporary occupancy. They didn’t give you actual allocation, which meant that you were there temporarily and at the will of the government, they would move you. That’s why it was called CTO,” he said.

The governor added that he would work with the Head of Service to secure a permanent location for the union and address the rent it currently pays.

“Having said that, I’ll work with the Head of Service to make sure we find you a permanent place and we’ll sort out the issue of the rents you are currently paying. On the issue of the bus, we’ll sort that one out,” he said.

The Commissioner for Finance, Hauwa Nuru, also said the state government was up to date with pension payments and continued to make provisions for gratuities.

She attributed the non-payment of pensions to some retirees between 2015 and 2018 to their failure to participate in the required verification exercise.

“I will like to clarify that for those that have not received their pension between the period of 2015 and 2018 is because they didn’t come for verification,” Nuru said.

Meanwhile, the state NUP chairman, Mahmud Saidu, commended AbdulRazaq for what he described as improvements in pension administration since the governor assumed office in May 2019.

Saidu recalled that pensioners experienced partial salary payments and pension arrears before the current administration took over, adding that the government subsequently cleared outstanding salary deductions amounting to more than N4bn.

“Let me remind you, sir. When you came in, you met us with amputated salary, pensions (with payment of) 25 percent, 50 percent, and so on and so forth.

“When you came in, and we cried to you, you rescued us. You paid us all the outstanding amputated salaries running into more than four billions,” he said.

The NUP chairman further said pensioners had previously received their payments as late as the second month, but that the situation had improved under the current administration.

“Since May 2019 when you came in, we have been getting our salary on or before 25th of every month. You are not owing us any kobo. More grace to your elbow. Long life and prosperity,” Saidu said.