Ekiti State Government has paid the 2nd batch gratuity of retired public servants who keyed into the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) instituted by government .
Governor Biodun Oyebanji while addressing the retirees at conference hall, Governor’s office, Ado Ekiti assured them of his determination to promptly pay terminal benefits of its employees.
Governor Oyebanji who was represented by the State Head of Service, Barrister Agbede explained that the Contributory Pension Scheme has proven to be a panacea to the ailing Defined Benefits scheme which had been bedeviling with mirage of challenges thereby leading to accumulated arrears of unpaid salaries.
He said the scheme in the state covers all employees appointed into the civil service from January 2010 with a contribution of 10% of basic salary, rent and transport allowances by the employee and 8% of same by the employer.
According to him, beneficiaries of the second phase were those who retired about 3 months ago.
Governor Oyebanji who reiterated his determination to regular payment of salaries, deductions and pensions promised to offset the age long gratuities of the pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme soon.
The Permanent Secretary, Pension Commission, Mr P.A Adebiyi explained that the payment of gratuities through the CPS to beneficiaries had made it clear that the scheme has come to stay in the state.
Beneficiaries of the scheme thanked the state government for keeping to his promise.
The Chairmen of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and NULGE had earlier lauded Governor Oyebanji for keeping to his promise in tandem with law guiding the contributory pension scheme, and urged both the employers and pension administrators to keep to their own obligations.