The Governor gave the assurance that the state government would continue to meet its obligations to pensioners as gratitude for services rendered for the development of the state during their active days. 

According to him, pre-retirement entrepreneurship and post-retirement entrepreneurship trainings will soon commence for civil servants preparing for retirement and pensioners and supported with revolving loan to ensure improved quality of life after retirement. 

Federal Allocation Drop
The Governor who disclosed that the state federal allocation had dropped from its initial three point one billion naira in 2011 to two point two billion naira last month, expressed displeasure that the drop had impacted negatively on his administration in executing its laudable planned projects.

Governor Ahmed attributed the inability of the Local Governments to meeting their obligations to pensioners to dwindling allocation and enjoined the pensioners to support the move for good governance in the country. 

Governor Ahmed also warned politicians to desist from playing politics with the lives of the pensioners, promising better days for the pensioners if re-elected.

In his address, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Faruq Akanbi disclosed that the State Government had been faithful in the prompt payment of monthly pensions and increase in the monthly gratuity to the State Pension Board from 100 million naira to 200 million naira.

Gratuity Payment
Comrade Akanbi urged the governor to address the disparity in the payment of gratuity between local and state government pensioners in the interest of all pensioners.

Earlier, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Alhaji Muhammad Haliru commended the State Government for the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities to retired workers in the state.

Alhaji Haliru who described Governor Ahmed as a pension friendly administrator, promised support for the re-election bid of the Governor to enable him consolidate on his various incentives for the pensioners.

VON correspondent reports that some of the pensioners who spoke at the interactive session called on the State Governor to intervene in the payment of local government gratuity up till date for the benefit of Local Government Pensioners.

They also called for improved welfare package by extending health insurance scheme to aged people in the state.