A Speech Delivered By Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor Of Ekiti State On The Occasion Of The Distribution Of Gratuity Cheques To Pensioners In Ado-Ekiti On Friday, 14th September, 2012.

1. A SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. KAYODE FAYEMI, GOVERNOR
OF EKITI STATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE DISTRIBUTION
OF GRATUITY CHEQUES TO PENSIONERS IN ADO EKITI ON
FRIDAY, 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2012
PROTOCOL
It is a thing of joy for me that God has spared our lives to witness this
memorable occasion. I want to particularly thank God who has kept many
of the beneficiaries of this event alive to receive their own gratuity cheques.
For those who had passed on, we also need to thank God for the families
they left behind who have kept the good names of their departed loved
ones aglow.
I like to express the appreciations of the State Government for your
immense contributions to the development of our dear state while you were
in service. Today, a sum of N501 million (Five hundred and one million
Naira) will be given as gratuities to 279 pensioners that cut across public
servants in the services of the State and Local Governments as well as
primary school teachers. May I say that this event is to demonstrate the
commitment of this government to ensuring that pensioners receive their
benefits as and when due.
This belief is borne out of the fact that these noble men and women have
paid their dues to the system and are thus entitled to have a blissful post
service rest. You will recall that post retirement comfort for pensioners was
one of my promises during the electioneering campaigns and this has

2. consequently been enshrined in the Human Capital Development pillar of
our eight – point agenda to put poverty to flight at all levels of social strata.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I like to remind you that one of my
first assignments on assumption of office was the approval and payment of
gratuities to the retirees of the defunct Local Government Pension Board.
The concern of this government for the welfare of senior citizens informed
the formulation of programmes geared towards making life comfortable for
these senior citizens.
However, at a point, it became expedient to determine the quantum of
what government was paying on salaries and pension. Government thus
decided to embark on the conduct of biometric authentication of workers
and pensioners on the payroll of the State. This was done with a view to
introducing a pragmatic planning into personnel financial management in
the State. This explained the delay in the payment of gratuity for
sometimes. However, government recently set up machinery to determine
the total outstanding gratuity. These efforts gave birth to the event of
today.
I like to assure you of the regular release of funds for the payment of all
gratuities. This brings me to the issues of your outstanding pension
allowances, and particularly the implementation of the 6% and 15%
incremental rates, about which your representatives have entered into
dialogue with the Government. While the government has approved these

3. incremental rates in principle, the dwindling finances being faced by the
State has mitigated the implementation. Be that it may, we are looking
inward to raise fund for the implementation. I have directed the Ekiti State
Pension Commission to determine all indebtedness to pensioners including
those of the corporations and tertiary institutions. This is important so that
we can have a holistic record of all monies owed pensioners to be able to
plan the payment.
As a matter of fact, this Government has a pact with the people for the
efficient delivery of good governance for the common good of all. We are
not unmindful of some attitudinal changes required by our people to
appreciate our passion to reorder some debilitating trends which have
obstructed our path to success as a people over the years. We cannot
continue to do same things that have not helped our course to growth as a
people and expect different results. We must thus eschew all vices and be
willing to do our parts in ensuring that Ekiti State reclaims its place of pride
in integrity and industry.
I wish to commend the efforts of the management of the Ekiti State
Pension Commission for effective pension administration in the state. It is
expedient to remark that pension administration is undergoing a
repositioning in Nigeria, and Ekiti State cannot afford to be left behind. In
our efforts to ascertain effective pension administration in the state
therefore, we have consolidated all pension offices under the aegis of Ekiti
State Pension Commission. It is thus the desire of Government that the

4. Commission would work in alliance with other stakeholders to consolidate
the gains already made. The state would soon commence deductions into
the Contributory Pension Fund. I, therefore, urge eligible workers who have
not yet registered to do so in their own interest.
I like to congratulate the recipients of the gratuity cheques being
distributed today and urge you to be prudent by investing the money
wisely. Apart from guaranteeing a fulfilled life for you, such ventures will
increase your earnings as well as improve the economy of the state.
I wish you all a safe journey back to your destinations.
Thank you and God bless.