The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, has pledged to continue fighting for the rights and welfare of pensioners while contributing to the development of the state, its Secretary, Dr Olusegun Abatan, said on Monday in Ibadan.
Abatan made the statement during the unveiling of an ambulance for the Pensioners’ Hospital, where he said the union had established and continued to run the hospital, Pensioners FM 106.7 radio station and its secretariat through contributions from pensioners. He said more than 120 people work directly and indirectly under the union, making the NUP not only an advocate for pensioners but also an employer of labour in the state.
Speaking at the event, Abatan said the NUP had maintained the tradition of contributing to its activities rather than going to the government to solicit financial assistance.
“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Council, has maintained the prestige of not going cap-in-hand to solicit for financial assistance from the government,” he said.
He said the union had, over the years, celebrated Pensioners Day without financial assistance from any government, whether past or present, in Oyo State.
According to him, the union requested an ambulance and the solarisation of the Pensioners’ Hospital from the Oyo State Government during the inauguration of the facility, known as Sure Health Care Hospital, on December 4, 2024.
Abatan said the Oyo State Government had yet to respond to the two requests, despite the fact that about 20 months had passed since they were made.
He said the unveiling of the ambulance would further improve healthcare delivery for pensioners in particular and the community in general.
The NUP secretary also called on the Oyo State Government to provide the union with an 18-seater bus, saying similar buses had been given to other unions in the state.
Abatan said Oyo State had enjoyed “unequaled labour peace” under Governor Seyi Makinde and commended the governor for being labour-friendly.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Mr Ademola Ige, said Governor Makinde did not take the welfare of pensioners lightly.
Ige assured the union that its requests would be presented to the state government for consideration.
In his remarks, the NUP National President, Mr Mazi Abumisi, who was represented by the union’s Treasurer, Mr Jare Jokanola, commended the Oyo State Council for its initiatives.
Jokanola commended the council for always setting the pace and bringing healthcare delivery to the downtrodden.
