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Makinde pays N250m gratuities to over 100 Oyo retirees
The Seyi Makinde-led Oyo State government says it has disbursed about N250m gratuities to over 100 retirees to clear outstanding gratuity owed them by the previous administrations in the state.
The Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Alhaji Siju Lawal, who presented symbolic cheques to some of the retirees in the Ministry’s Board Room, on Monday explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from December 2013 to January 2014.
Lawal added that the current administration, under the able leadership of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, would continue in same pattern till the outstanding gratuities were offset.
Alhaji Siju Lawal also noted that the Seyi Makinde led administration met a huge debt of about N55.9b, and has remained responsive to clearing the backlog, which has resulted in over 15 billion naira been cleared.
“This government inherited N55.9b and I know there is no government that will hear of this and would not be scared. But when governor Makinde came in, He was not bothered. This is to tell you that he loves workers and pensioners and cannot joke with them. So far, He has paid more than N15.1b.
“If you look critically, you will know that one good turn deserves another. To appreciate His efforts, we are not supposed to be told what we to do. All that is required of us is to continue to support him with all we have. Another surprising thing about this is, he has continued to increase it regularly,” He stated.
The Commissioner, however, called on the over 100 retirees who were beneficiaries of the disbursed gratuity to always support the government’s policies, urging them to use their gratuity judiciously.
He said: “Please, I want to urge you to utilise this money effectively. You have laboured so much and should not be seen spending such money anyhow. Use it for investment or anything that can give you a good return. Avoid investment in Ponzi or any other dubious investment schemes.”
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Segun Abatan, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his commitment to pensioners’ welfare as well as laudable style of governance.
According to Him, there are plans by the union to organize a ‘Thank You Rally’ in appreciation of the Governor kind gestures.
“A lot of pensioners have died in the past but this is not happening again in this state. Since 2003, we have been asking Governors of the past administrations to increase the gratuity but they did not. And what surprised us the most was the fact that we did not write Governor Makinde before he increased the money to N250m, though gradually. So, I can tell you authoritatively that you don’t need to look elsewhere for an Omoluabi.
“As a matter of fact, we will continue to appreciate him and follow Him to wherever he goes. Wherever we also tell our wards to go is where they will. The Governor will always have our support.
“We will organize nothing less than 10,000 pensioners to engage in ‘Thank You Rally’ to appreciate what Governor Makinde has been doing for us. This will just be a representative one because we are more than 50,000 in Oyo State,” Abatan noted.
Some of the retirees in their various remarks, also recounted their various plight before the intervention of the current administration and showered encomium on Governor Seyi Makinde for his goodwill and modesty to them.
“I want to appreciate Governor Makinde for this gesture. Today, we have heard that the money has been increased to N250m, a development which has never happened in this state before. We once had a governor in this state who said it is only who are still agile and alive that is entitled to pension,” One of them said.
A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerian households, revealing that two-thirds of the population struggle to afford healthy and nutritious meals. The survey, titled Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024), underscores the worsening multidimensional poverty and the erosion of purchasing power due to the persistent rise in the cost of goods and services.
The report shows that approximately 63.8% of households have been forced to eat only a few kinds of food due to financial constraints. About 62.4% of respondents admitted worrying about food insufficiency, while 60.5% ate less than they thought they should. The situation has deteriorated significantly since the last survey, as the proportion of households expressing food insecurity concerns rose from 36.9% in the previous wave to 62.4% in the current one.
Power Outages and Access to Energy
The survey also sheds light on the nation’s energy crisis, revealing that Nigerian households experience an average of 6.7 power blackouts per week. While 82.2% of urban households have access to electricity, the figure drops to 40.4% in rural areas.
Cooking remains predominantly dependent on traditional methods, with 65% of households using three-stone stoves and 70.2% relying on firewood. However, the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is reportedly increasing.
Sanitation and Asset Ownership
In terms of sanitation, the report highlights that many households still lack basic toilet facilities, relying on bushes or streets for waste disposal. Access to clean drinking water is often through tube wells or boreholes, reflecting a lack of formal infrastructure in many areas.
On asset ownership, the survey indicates a decline since 2018/19. While two-thirds of households own mobile phones, only 21.3% have internet access. Housing ownership remains significant, with 70.4% of households owning their homes—80.1% in rural areas compared to 49.1% in urban centers.
The NBS report provides a stark reminder of the challenges many Nigerians face daily, from food insecurity and power outages to inadequate sanitation and declining asset ownership. It calls for urgent policy interventions to address these critical issues and improve the living standards of the population.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
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