Pensioners in Edo State were in a jubilant mood on Thursday after the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, approved the payment of 13th-month salary to the citizens.

The retirees will join civil and public servants in the state to receive the 13-month salary which is set to be paid on December 27, 2023, in fulfillment of the governor’s promise of better and improved working and living conditions for workers and retirees in Edo State.

Obaseki also approved the gratuity payment for almost 400 ex-government workers in the state.

The Chairman of Edo Pensioners, Samuel Okhulegbe, while speaking at the flag off of the enrollment for the free health insurance for pensioners at the Government House in Benin on Thursday, commended Obaseki for prioritising the welfare of retirees and ensuring their entitlements are promptly paid.

Okhulegbe described Obaseki as a friend of pensioners, saying the governor has continued to put smiles on their faces.

“We receive our pensions as and when due. The governor has also approved 13th month for pensioners in Edo State. Obaseki is a friend of pensioners,” he added.

Earlier, Governor Obaseki, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the pensioners, commending them for their roles in the development of the state and country.

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He said: “People worked to build this country and people make Nigeria stand and their efforts should be remembered. They should be acknowledged and cared for.

“As a government, we took it as a priority to put the interest of pensioners on the front burner, as the way we treat pensioners will be a pointer to the way our workers will behave, making them trust the system.”

Noting that retirees have continued to benefit from the Contributory Pension Scheme adopted by Edo State since January 2017, the governor said: “Today we are reaping the benefits as we have in excess of N5 billion already contributed in the scheme.

“The Edo State Government was not paying gratuity for 30 years but my administration has started clearing the backlog. This morning, I just approved the gratuity payment for almost 400 former government workers.

“The fact that you are retired doesn’t mean your life should end. I encourage you to start putting your papers together six months before retirement to ensure you start receiving your pension a month after retirement.

“Healthcare is one of the major issues pensioners spend money on and face as they retire.

“We can’t leave them just like that, allowing them to spend out of their pockets from the little amount they are receiving. So, we decided to include pensioners in the health insurance scheme.

“It’s an offense in Edo for any employer of labour who employs more than five people not to have insurance cover for their workers. They can be sick at any time and need to be treated.

“From January 2024, I will go around companies in Edo to ensure their staff are registered and for any Company that fails, we will bring out the law and implement the law. We will put our hotlines out to report those that fail.”

The Star