Kaduna Pensioners Back Uba Sani for Second Term After N21bn Pension Payments

(Governor Uba Sani. Photo by The Economic Times)

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has called Governor Uba Sani a pensioner-friendly leader who has wiped the tears of its members in the last three years.

The union made the remark on Tuesday during a courtesy call on the governor, where it presented him with an award.

It said he has released over N21 billion to settle outstanding gratuities and death benefits.

Members of the state and national executive of the union also endorsed his second term bid, saying he has the plight of senior citizens at heart.

The state secretary, Alhassan Balarabe Musa, said history will remember the governor for paying pensions promptly.

He said the N21 billion paid in three years is unprecedented, since the last administration paid just over N37 billion in eight years.

That means the present government has paid about 60 percent of what the earlier one paid in eight years.

He added that pensioners now get their money on time, unlike before when local government pensioners waited two to three weeks.

Sometimes, he said, pensioners even get paid before civil servants receive their salaries.

He promised that the union will keep backing the administration and said Kaduna pensioners are 100 percent behind the governor.

The Deputy National Chairman of NUP, Abdullahi Usman Onuh, said much is expected from those to whom much is given.

He noted that there are about 16,000 pensioners in the state and that if each one gives the governor five votes, victory is secured.

He also urged pensioners to advise those contesting against the governor to think again.

Governor Uba Sani said the state respects and values its senior citizens, and that every worker will one day reach retirement age.

He said without their hard work, those in government today would not be where they are, and that paying pensioners well will also motivate workers still in service.

He said his government is pensioner-friendly because he spent many years fighting for workers and the vulnerable.

He noted that his administration had earlier raised the pension of permanent secretaries by 200 percent, but promised to look into the union's request for a review.

He also promised to set up a committee to review monthly pension payments in line with present realities.

The governor said many states look up to Kaduna and will raise pensioners' payments once his administration does the same for retirees.

He also gave the union a bus for its members and promised to give it a piece of land within Kaduna metropolis.