Makinde’s Pension Reform: Conferring Dignity On Hoary Heads // By Balqees Onadiran

It is no news that for decades, pensioners who have toiled for 35 active years in Oyo State were subjected to untold hardship. Many of these people had given 35 years of their lives in service to the state and found themselves abandoned in their twilight years. It was indeed saddening!

No one will claim that it is a fabricated story that under previous administrations in this state, pensions were not just meager, they were also irregular. This left senior citizens who had at one time or the other worked for the state as teachers, civil servants and local government workers to struggle to survive. Many of us, who witnessed these events, are still alive to tell the story irrespective of our political affiliations.

There was a time when pensioners collapsed while waiting in long queues for their stipends, and the dignity of those who had served with loyalty was trampled upon.
However, since the emergence of Governor Seyi Makinde, the story has taken a different turn, as these people’s welfare has been highly prioritised.

The truth must be told that caring for pensioners goes beyond a moral duty; it is also a reflection of a society’s values and commitment to justice. These individuals have spent decades building the foundations upon which states and institutions thrive. Therefore, it becomes obligatory to care for their well-being in retirement as a way of honouring their contributions.

When pensioners are neglected, it sends a direct message to future generations who are still in service that hard work and dedication are not rewarding and this could be discouraging. As a former U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, once said that “the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little,” it is a consensus that prioritising pensioners’ welfare upholds social equity and strengthens public trust in governance to create a system where workers can retire with dignity rather than despair.

This, however, was not the case in Oyo State until Governor Makinde came to the rescue. And, in his less than six years in office, his administration has brought relief and restored hope to Oyo State pensioners. Unlike in the past, when pensioners were treated as afterthoughts, third-class citizens (if one is permitted to have another category after second-class citizens), Makinde made their welfare a priority. Since assuming office in 2019, he has ensured that pensions are paid on or before the 25th of every month, a consistency that was unheard of in previous governments.

For over a year, he provided a N15,000 wage award to pensioners following the removal of subsidy on petroleum, helping them cope with the economic realities of the time. Kò ṣẹlẹ̀rí o!

For those who keep abreast of the latest developments regarding pensioners in Oyo State, they can conclude that there is a revolutionary pension reform. The most recent evidence of this is Makinde’s commitment to pensioners, which came with his announcement of an upward review of pensions in the state. As it is, the least paid pensioners, who previously earned humiliating amounts between N1,500 and N3,000 monthly, will now receive a dignified sum of ₦25,000. This move is to acknowledge their sacrifices and shield them from the harsh realities of inflation caused by the Federal Government. The pension review also accommodated the long-overdue 33 per cent pension increase that was supposed to have been implemented in 2010. It also factored in the 2019 consequential pension adjustment of 20 per cent across the board and a part of the N32,000 pension increase. These measures highlight a significant shift from the past to ensure that retirees can finally enjoy the fruits of their tedious labour.

It is safe to say that this is from despair to dignity, as the impact of these reforms cannot be overstated. It is exciting that pensioners who once endured humiliation and neglect now have financial security; they no longer need to cry before receiving their pensions. Many who had struggled in the past can now conveniently afford necessities, live with dignity, and not wish for death due to pangs of hunger.

The days when pensioners collapsed in queues, waiting endlessly for their dues, are now a thing of the past. Governor Makinde’s approach is entirely different to that of his predecessor (a former governor), who infamously dismissed pensioners’ grievances by saying, “The living have not been paid; the dead are asking for pensions.” Such insensitivity showed one thing: the neglect pensioners suffered in the past. Today, under Makinde’s administration, pensioners are treated with the utmost respect they deserve.

Pensioners, who once feared retirement due to the uncertainty that followed, can now rest assured that the government values their years of service and that they will not be humiliated in any form. With his commitment, Governor Makinde has changed the plight of pensioners and also set a precedent for future administrations in Oyo State.

With these reforms, Omituntun is showing to the world that renewal and transformation have truly come alive in Oyo State and that it is leaving no age, social stratum or people behind. If we call this approach a legacy of compassion and commitment, it is not an exaggeration.

Apart from pensioners, Makinde uses a style of governance that has set a standard for social welfare in Oyo State. His administration’s focus on prompt salary payments, infrastructure development, and economic growth has positioned the state as a model of good governance in Nigeria and beyond.

Onadiran sent this piece from Ibadan.