Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, on Wednesday said his administration places premium on the welfare of retirees in the state.
Governor Akeredolu said his administration is committed to promoting ideas and strategies that would strengthen Pension Reform in the state.
He described the pensioners as esteemed retirees who had served the state dutifully in their various capacities.
The Governor spoke in his office while playing host to members of the State Pension Commission Board, led by the Chairman, Dr. Tonia Smart.
The Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Jaiyeola Olowosuko, and other members of board including the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the State, Comrade Sunday Adeleye-Oluwole were present.
Governor Akeredolu, who said the state had gone through a lot of challenges in the payment of pension and gratuities, enjoined the Board to make the state pension scheme well grounded.
He stressed that a solid foundation must be laid especially for those graduating into the scheme.
The Governor added that technological innovations should also be introduced into registration and verifications to avoid the stress the retirees are made to go through most times.
On the bane of ghost workers in the civil service, Governor Akeredolu urged the Board to help the state government resolve the perennial issue so as to save resources and block loopholes.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Pencom, Dr. Smart, commended the Governor for his great commitment to the welfare of workers and placing priority on the retirees.
She assured that the commission will not relent in its promises to use Ondo State as a perfect example of how pension matter can be done successfully.
“We Will like to congratulate you on the various strides that Ondo State has been making since the inception of your administration and this Board will continue to support your administration.
“Since my appointment, I have had interactive discussions on means and ways of generating revenue and one of the means is the low hanging approval already received by the Commission from the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) on Enrolment and verification.
“The license apart from Revenue generation will also serve as a veritable, trusted and secured means of verification for the residents of the State and particularly resolving the financial issues associated with ghost workers thereby putting a stop to the loss of funds by the State.” Dr. Smart noted.
