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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • President meets, congratulates first elected black senator in Italy 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met and congratulated Nigerian-born senator in Italy, Mr Toni Iwobi.

    Iwobi, who has lived in Italy for 41 years, is the first black man ever to be elected senator in that country.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, met Iwobi on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, long with a high-powered team from the Italian Senate.

    “My congratulations to you and to Italy more,” President Buhari told Iwobi, who was elected in March this year on the platform of the far-right League Party.

    “It shows the advanced respect of Italians for human beings, in spite of colour. It’s very impressive.” he added

    The team from Italy discussed issues like illegal migration and how it can be curbed through investments in Africa, recharge of the Lake Chad via inter-basin water transfer, among others.

    “Africa doesn’t need charity, but collaboration to develop,” Senator Iwobi declared.

    Responding, President Buhari noted that what causes irregular migration from developing to developed countries include lack of security, education, health care, among others, stressing: “Climate change has had negative impact on a big country like Nigeria. That is why our youths often defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to try and get to Europe. It is a problem that needs to be solved.”

    The Italian Senate delegation plans to visit Nigeria in due course.

     

  • PDP presidential aspirants and Balarabe Musa’s unkind cut

    PERHAPS the greatest dilemma Nigerians must contend with in next year’s elections is whether they can find a competition to President Muhammadu Buhari worthy of their excitement, support and votes. Former Kaduna State governor, Balarabe Musa, admirably referenced this excruciating predicament when he worried that despite the president’s noticeable failure as a leader and president, no opposition politician appears capable of unseating him. “President Buhari has failed, and everyone knows this, ” he began poignantly and fearlessly. “But let me say too that none of those jostling to replace him has shown sufficient capacity to earn the trust of Nigerians. It is not enough to have integrity; that integrity must be tested for it to become an asset to be sought out for. The leaders of today are interested in themselves, and this is largely the cause of the corruption the country is now infamously known for. If these elements have not been tested and their integrity established, I am afraid there is not much to be taken when 2019 finally comes. It is sad that while the current President has nothing to offer, those who want the job have not shown tested and demonstrable integrity.”

    According to the interview he granted the Vanguard newspaper some days ago, Mallam Musa was dismissive of both the president and his challengers. The president, he says confidently, is a failure, suggesting in addition that everyone knows this fact. From the tone of the interview, he did not think that recognising that the president had shortcomings was up for debate of any kind. He thinks it is a settled fact. He probably came to this conclusion because he thought the president was divisive, prompting him to wonder whether any of the opposition parties could field a candidate capable of uniting the country’s diverse population unlike the president. If he went further to identify the failings of the president on the political, social and economic fields, the newspaper did not avail the public of those facts. It appears sufficient for the former governor, who was one of the most ideological state chief executives in the Second Republic, that the president cared little about delivering justice and fairness to the various ethnic, religious and social groups.

    Nigerians and Mallam Musa know full well that the only opposition party capable of dealing a mortal blow to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Neither the overhyped African Democratic Congress (ADC) touted by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo as the deus ex machina for Nigeria’s political stasis nor other coalitions still in formation are capable of denting the reputation or power of the ruling party and its president. So, even if Mallam Musa did not mention the PDP by name in denouncing opposition capabilities, it is clear which party he was talking about. But there are more than half a dozen credible and in fact strong presidential contenders in the PDP, at least one of them a former vice president, some of them former governors, and others leading lawmakers and politicians. If, in the eyes of Mallam Musa, Nigeria cannot find one of these eminent gentlemen to really challenge President Buhari who is himself heavily befuddled by his policy and ideological foibles, then both the PDP and the country as a whole are truly in trouble.

    It is unlikely Mallam Musa was exaggerating. The PDP is racked by tremendous but humiliating self-doubt, and its presidential aspirants are hesitant and too measured in exuding the poise and moral anchor required to differentiate and distinguish them. One of them, ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar, may enjoy name recognition on a scale that far outweighs the rest of the PDP aspirant crowd, but he has been unable to shake off the flightiness that critics allege dogs his politics, smother his constant and unrelenting peregrinations and migrations across party lines and affiliations, and curtail his corrosive and gloomy anger that fuel his combativeness. He is probably the most astute mentor his party can boast of, but he sometimes counterbalances this enormous attribute by his pugnacious and single-minded pursuit of personal goals. If Mallam Musa did not find it appropriate to count the former vice president as a credible presidential contender, it may be because he surmises Alhaji Abubakar’s copious gifts to be less striking than his unsubstantial faults. The PDP presidential aspirants list also boasts of Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal, and former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, among others. These eminent politicians are strong contenders individually, and nearly all of them are ideological, educated, exposed and are imbued with the character necessary to rule a variegated nation like Nigeria. Dr Saraki is a fighter, regardless of his fluid and elastic principles and his tenuous concession to the sound ethics of governance. Mallam Kwankwaso is a study in political ardour and the indispensable intransigence that undergirds principled politics, regardless of his obtrusion and needless meddlesomeness. Mallam Tambuwal, a lawyer, is a consensus builder and champion of the grand rubrics of opposition politics, regardless of the suspicion that he is in some ways a closet irredentist. And Mallam Lamido, despite his exasperating battles with the anti-graft agency, not to say his suspect adherence to the ethics of governance, is perhaps the most ideological of the lot and a politician eager to build bridges and connect with inspiring mantras.

    Yet, nearly all of them, despite their vaunted ideological postulations, are unable to erase the lingering doubts that they are in fact substantially conservative and possessing nothing tangible by way of impressive records to give battle to anyone, let alone to President Buhari whose cultic following still continues to bedazzle mainly the northern part of the country and etch the frightening spectre of his invincibility on the national psyche. Perhaps Mallam Musa simply recognises, by his damning conclusions, that it would take so much more, including a test of integrity which none of the gentlemen contenders have been able to pass with flying colours, to ruffle the president’s impassive feathers and manners, not to talk of unhorsing him completely. The former Kaduna State governor reflects the popular opinion about the near invincibility of the president and the despondency many Nigerians experience in finding a champion to take him on. The chances that they will find such a champion are too quixotic to contemplate.

    How, therefore, foreign research organisations such as the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the global financial services organisation, HSBC, and other international analysts could predict President Buhari’s loss in the coming presidential poll when his opponents are not even known and coalitions are yet to be formed against him, is hard to explain. As a matter of fact, some of the presidential aspirants themselves have suggested it would require the collective efforts of the aspirants and their party to unseat President Buhari. But whether that collective effort can be summoned to the arduous but uplifting task of unleashing the real transformative change Nigeria needs is a different matter altogether.

    International research organisations and other global analysts seem fairly sure that President Buhari will succumb to defeat in next year’s poll. Mallam Musa, while agreeing with the fundamental diagnosis of the Buhari naysayers, is unsure a saviour can be found to do the job. Nigerians themselves are divided on whether the president can be defeated or whether in fact he should be defeated. That dilemma will be resolved in the next two months or so whether or not the arduous task of defeating the president can be accomplished within reasonable time and with any degree of success. If the PDP candidate, when his party elects him, can engineer the unity and momentum needed to catalyse his campaign, and his party itself can fund and drive a massive mobilisation that resonates with the electorate, perhaps the unthinkable might yet happen. For now, there is no opposition candidate of stature in the ring, partly because the conventions are yet to be held, and the PDP is so crestfallen and too dilatory to face the task fate has appeared to assign them in these uncertain and troublous times.

  • President welcomes OIC’s support in fight against insurgency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the pledge by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help Nigeria tackle the Boko Haram insurgency through sound education, among others.

    Buhari, speaking during a bilateral meeting Thursday  with OIC Secretary-General, Dr Youssef Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, on the margins of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York, also underscored the importance of education in purging the mind of wrong indoctrination, particularly on religion.

    The President Buhari, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that the problem in Nigeria was aggravated by climate change and population explosion.

    He emphasized the need for the recharge of Lake Chad through inter-basin water transfer, “to take care of about 45 million people who depend on the lake for agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and many others.”

    The OIC scribe had told Buhari that his organisation had passed a resolution committing member states to support Nigeria in combating extremism.

    He said that the body was ready to use its facilities and institutions to correct the wrong narrative that the Boko Haram insurgency was about Islam.

    Dr Al-Othaimeen, who noted that development was essential to addressing extremism, also pledged assistance for Nigeria in that respect.

  • APC presidential primary: Buhari gets overwhelming nod for second term

    All Progressives  Congress (APC) members across the country yesterday gave President Muhammadu Buhari the nod to fly the party’s flag in next year’s elections as the party commenced the process for the renewal of his mandate.

    Although Buhari was the only aspirant  to procure and submit  his nomination form for the presidency on the platform of the party,members trooped out in their thousands yesterday to endorse him in the  direct primaries held in the 36 states and Abuja.

    At press time, he had received  the endorsement of 388,653 members  in Rivers State and 202,599 in Jigawa State.

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State promised that Buhari should expect five million votes from the state in next year’s election.

    The governor, who was impressed by the large turnout of party members for the primary, said: “With these figures of over five thousand votes from my ward, Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local  Government Area, which only come from APC card-carrying members, it is indicative of the fact that our promise of over five  million votes for  our dear President in 2019 election are tenable and realisable.”

    He added: ”People should understand that when the general election comes around,  apart from our APC members that would vote for the continuation of the President Buhari administration, many others who belong to other parties would join the queue.

    “Not only that, even those that do not belong to any political parties, but have their permanent voter cards will opt for him also.

    “The turnout is encouraging. Kano State is always ready to continue to support him.”

    He commended the leadership of the party  for the peaceful conduct of the direct primary.

    Governor  Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa State  said  yesterday that  Buhari was on course for re-election next year.

    A similar sentiment was expressed by Governor Abdul’aziz Yari  of Zamfara State,while former national chairman of the party,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, hailed members of the party in Edo State for defying  the heavy rain in the state yesterday to show their support for the president.

    Leader of the party in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor,  said the people of the state are looking forward to next year’s election to renew Buhari’s mandate.

    Bindow,speaking after casting his vote at Kolere Ward in the Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State ,said that the developmental strides of his administration were clear indications of Buhari’s qualification for re-election.

    He also said the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in the Northeast was as one of the fundamental achievements of Buhari’s administration. He expressed satisfaction with the mass turnout of APC members at the election as well as the peaceful and orderliness at the venue

    Why Buhari deserves second term –  Yari

    Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State  told party supporters at the Abubakar Tunau Model Primary School polling unit in Talata-Mafara  that Buhari  deserves the votes of well-meaning  Nigerians in view of his  good mission to move the country forward.

    He said: ”Even though Buhari is the only presidential candidate of our party, the direct primary was organised to confirm the support of Nigerians for him.

    “I am happy with the large turnout of APC members here in Talata-Mafara, and I am impressed with the peaceful conduct of our members,” he said.

    No dissenting voice against Buhari in Edo —Oyegun

    The immediate past national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said that there was no dissenting voice against the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Edo State.

    Chief Oyegun  lauded Edo APC members for the huge turnout at  the presidential primary despite yesterday’s downpour.

    “We all queued up in the rain and we were counted. We voted and there was no dissenting voice,” he said.

    Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who voted at Ward 11, Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area, hailed the adoption of direct primary, saying:  “The purpose of doing this direct primary has been  achieved today”

    He said the APC would have nothing to be afraid of next year only if members could turn out in large numbers as they did yesterday.

    Huge turnout in Daura

    Party members in  Daura, Kasina State,Buhari’s home town  turned out in large numbers to vote in the presidential primary.

    The party members began converging on the voting centres as early as 7am, declaring that they were “very eager” to participate in the exercise.

    Abdulmanaf Daura, Organising Secretary of the APC in the Northwest zone, told the News Agecy of Nigeria (NAN) that the large turnout was an “indication that the people believe in the ideals of the ruling party; it shows that our mass appeal is intact.”

    Ahmed Elmourzouq, Katsina State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, told NAN that he was particularly impressed with the high turnout of women, saying that the APC-led administration at the state and federal levels would continue to execute projects that would benefit less-privileged Nigerians.

    Ali Mani, APC chairman in President Buhari’s Sarkin-Yara Ward, who also praised the large and early turnout of voters, expressed optimism that the ruling party would win all levels of the 2019 general elections.

    Delta will return  Buhari next year—Emerhor

    Leader of the APC in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, said the people of the state are   desirous of re-electing President Buhari next year because of the high level of his administration’s investment in  infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.

    Emerhor spoke at Evwreni Ward 8, Ughelli North Council Area of the state, where he, along with the Executive  Director, Projects, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, voted in  the presidential primary.

    Addressing newsmen at the end of the exercise, Emerhor, who is also a Delta Central Senatorial hopeful, said: “Buhari has done a lot for us and the entire Delta State and that is why we are acknowledging him as our president for a second term. From now till the general election, we would not relent in our efforts as this is our best chance to transfer Delta State from the PDP to the APC.

    “I believe it is surprising for anyone not to support Buhari because from what we can see, he has done a lot in fighting corruption, insecurity and in developing the Niger Delta”, Emerhor said.

    Also speaking on the impact of the NDDC in the Niger Delta, the NDDC Executive Director, Dr Adjogbe, said: “When we were sworn in, we were given the specific mandate to come out and develop the Niger Delta so that the people can feel the impact of the allocation accrued to the commission,

    388,653 back him in Rivers

    At the close of voting in Rivers State yesterday,a total of 388,653  APC members who took part in the exercise favoured Buhai for a second term.

    The election, which had Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi as returning officer, was  witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) electoral officers (EOs) in the 23 LGAs  of the state and police officers.

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of

  • Combating corruption will free funds for Africa development – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that checking the menace of corruption would create major sources of funding for developmental programmes and projects for African economies.

    He made the remark while addressing a High-Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration, Bridging Africa’s Infrastructural Gap for Sustainable Development organised by NEPAD/APRM Nigeria on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President expressed regret that huge amounts of funds are still being squirreled out of the continent.

    He said “It is still worrisome considering that billions of dollars, great talents and professionals are continually drained out of the continent through various corrupt activities thus causing poor investment inflows, undermining the rule of law, stifling trade, worsening macro-economic conditions and escalating level of poverty in our countries.

    “These detestable practices are being perpetrated by some international collaborators hiding in secret jurisdictions.” he said

    The Nigerian President, however, expressed delight that “Efforts are being made by African leaders to ensure greater transparency and accountability in government business, fostering regional integration as well as creating enabling environment for our youth.”

    He stressed that “These efforts will remain unabated, as African leaders will remain unrelenting.”\

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari assures Nigerians in diaspora

    Looking ahead, he said: “We must adopt laws, regulations and policies that encourage transparent financial transactions, youth and women’s empowerment programmes as well as establishing good infrastructural links among member states towards sanitising the continent of these ills.”

    Describing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as a strategic framework document designed for the “socio-economic development of Africa and a policy framework to address our economic and social challenges,” President Buhari implored his colleagues to: eradicate poverty; place African countries on a path of sustainable growth and development; halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process; enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy and; accelerate the empowerment of women and youth.

    Calling the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) a flagship programme of NEPAD and a specialized Agency within the AU structure, the President noted that it is mainly “a self-monitoring and assessment tool for peer learning and enthronement of good governance on the continent.”

    Reminding his fellow leaders “That Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent over the next 50 years with a strong mandate on NEPAD and APRM,” he urged them to “build on and seek the acceleration of the implementation of past and present continental initiatives for our growth and sustainable development.”

    Saying that he looked forward to the conclusions of the conference, the Nigerian leader assured the gathering that, “African leaders are totally committed to delivering these developmental goals, namely, AU Agenda 2063 and 2030 SDGs in order to keep up with the international economic development.”

     

     

     

  • Buhari gets special honours in New York

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received some honours in New York.

    The State of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the President received the honours after making a presentation at the High Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration and Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Gap, a programme on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.

    Diane Campbell, representing Senator Turner of New Jersey, read a citation of the Nigerian leader, acknowledging his military, professional and political strides.

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari will be easy to defeat – Bafarawa

    President Buhari, according to the statement, stood ramrod straight, as the hall erupted in rapturous applause.

    The Chairman, Nigerian Coalition for Business Development and Investment, Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.

    On hand to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry.

    Also there were ministers; directors-general; Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO NEPAD International; Princess Gloria Akobundu, CEO NEPAD Nigeria; Prof Ibrahim Gambari, former Minister of External Affairs; and top senior government officials from Nigeria.

     

     

  • Ogun APC holds peaceful primary to vote Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ogun State on Friday trooped out in their thousands throughout the 236 wards in the state for the party’s presidential primaries and voted President Muhammadu Buhari to run for the 2019 Presidential election.

    At Sango Ota ward, where the turnout was massive, the people voted enthusiastically for Buhari. The process went peacefully and recorded no hitches.

    Also, in majority of the wards in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South, APC members turned in large numbers to cast vote for the President.

    In Ward 13, Igbore-Agoba area of Abeokuta South Local Government, party members were sighted in their hundreds on queue waiting to take turn to vote for the party’s sole presidential candidate.

    Former governor of the state, Aremo Segun Osoba, who voted at Ward 13, Igbore – Agoba, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.

    He urged members to repeat the orderly conduct on Sunday during the governorship primary.

    “The exercise was very peaceful and orderly. This is an indication that all other primaries will go on smoothly.

    “And I have come here today to preach unity to our members. They should embrace peace and forget all differences that we might have had in the past.

    Read Also: Strike hits Lagos, Adamawa, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, others

    “My message is simple. We must learn serious lesson from Osun election. We must not be disunited. We must go into all the races as one family.

    “Whoever emerges must become the official candidate of all of us, irrespective of the position or age. We must accept whoever emerges as flag bearer at all levels.

    “Not only for governorship, but also senatorial, House of Representatives and the state assembly. We must all go out and we must not allow the opposition to return.

    “On Sunday don’t fight anyone, do everything orderly. There should be continuity in Ogun, APC must continue in this state,” Osoba said.

    Also in Ward 12 and Ward 6 – all in Abeokuta South Local Government, party faithful came out in scores and voted for Buhari to run in 2019.

    Same trend was observed a Ibara Orile Ward 16 Abeokuta North Local Government where the party executives adopted  option A4.

    Commenting on the primary, immediate past acting  state chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, preached peace and unity in the party,  saying “there can’t be progress and development in an atmosphere of rancour and disunity.”

    However, the Governor Ibikunle Amosun, monitored the exercise at the Ajura ward and other wards across the state.

  • 2019: Buhari will be easy to defeat – Bafarawa

    Former governor of Sokoto state and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa has declared that defeating President Muhammadu Buhari will be easy task if all the aspirants join hand together with the party.

    Bafarawa, who, made the remark on Friday in Kano while interacting with PDP state delegates in an effort to solicit for their support ahead of the forthcoming PDP presidential primaries, said the unity and political stability is the most important thing to be done among all the stakeholders and party leadership in order to defeat APC in 2019.

    Bafarawa frowned at the issue of political bickering and attacks among party elders in the media as reason that will destroy party unity and cohesion before the general election.

    “There is no reason whatsoever to see some certain party elders fighting each other through media, such can destabilize our collective unity and chances to defeat ruling APC.

    “All such noise and threat among party leaders across board are meant to create disunity by some of whom are not happy with our current success in the country,” said Bafarawa.

    He assured that nothing will stop him from defeating other aspirants in the forthcoming National convention of the party as he has the entire needed requisite to lead the party to success in the 2019 Presidential election.

    Read Also: Why I want to be president — Bafarawa

    “I am not afraid, I will never see any of the aspirants as a threat to get our party ticket, I will surely defeat and secure the mandate.

    “My reasons, why I said I will beat Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso both in Kano and also at the Presidential primaries hands down, are just simply, because he did not perform. What he promised to deliver to the people was not achieved, because the people did not see it on the ground. So beating him is just as simple as ABC.

    Commenting on the controversy surrounding the venue of the National convention, Bafarawa said this is normal, there must be crisis in politics, if there are no arguements or disagreements, then there will be no solution to such problems.

    Speaking earlier, the Kano state PDP Chairman, Senator Mas’ud Jibrin Doguwa assured Bafarawa of total support and endorsement of PDP Kano in order to realise his ambition of leading Nigeria.

    He said PDP Kano state belongs to genuine party supporters, not any individual adding that no one can intimidate or frighten them to succumb easily on party issues in the state.

    “Bafarawa, you are a real democrat, man of honour and  great leader who understand how to tackle the problem of our country through collective and peaceful means. Therefore, people of Kano are your supporters,”Doguwa said.

  • Large turn out as APC holds presidential primaries in Daura

    All Progressives Congress (APC), members in Daura, Kasina State, have turned out in large numbers to vote in the ongoing presidential  primary election.

    Daura is the home town of President Muhammadu Buhari, the sole candidate of the APC for the presidential polls scheduled to hold in February 2019.

    Party members trooped to their respective ward polling units as early as 7 a.m., with some of them declaring that they were “very eager” o participate in the open ballot system of voting.

    A correspondent, who visited some of the polling units, observed that the voters were orderly, while security was very tight.

    Alhaji Abdulmanaf Daura, Organizing Secretary of the APC in the Northwest zone, who spoke with newsmen, commended  the APC members for the large turnout, in spite of the ongoing industrial action declared by labour on Thursday.

    Read Also: Primary election: APC releases names of guber aspirants

    “The massive turnout is an indication that the people believe in the ideals of the ruling party; it shows that our mass appeal is intact,” he said.

    Alhaji Ahmed Elmourzouq, Katsina State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, told newsmen that the election was a direct one involving all members of the party.

    The commissioner said that he was particularly impressed with the high turn out of women, saying that the APC-led administration at the state and federal levels would continue to execute projects that would benefit less privilege Nigerians.

    Alhaji Ali Mani, APC chairman in President Buhari’s Sarkin-Yara Ward, who also praised the large and early turn out of voters, expressed optimism that the ruling party would win all levels of the 2019 general elections.

    Voting and accreditation of voters commenced simultaneously across the 11 electoral wards in Daura Local Government Area.

  • Ondo pensioners beg for payment of unpaid entitlements

    Pensioners in Ondo state have pleaded with the labour leaders in the state to help them fight for their outstanding entitlements.

    The state NUP chairman, Chief Raphael Adetuwo, said the unpaid entitlements have subjected pensioners to untold hardship in the state.

    Adetuwo hinged their outcry on the recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to governors on payment of salaries and pensions.

    He added that old age hazards and poverty are bitter experiences among them.

    The senior citizen disclosed that pensioners are yet to be paid pension and gratuities since 2012, adding that the 33 per cent pension increase has not been approved by the state government since 2014.

    Read Also: Osun victory shows APC is preferred party – Obaseki

    He said”15 percent pension increase paid to state pensioners in 2012 is yet to be paid to the local government pensioners including primary school pensioners

    “Arrears of monthly pension as a result of delay in the payment of monthly pension after retirement are yet to be paid since 2012. Gratuities to state pensioners who served Federal Government between 1972 and 1976 are yet to be paid.”

    The NUP chairman, who accused the state government of shirking away from those financial responsibilities, urged the labour leaders to come to their aid.