Yenagoa—Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri has rewarded 30 retired permanent secretaries one million naira each in appreciation of their service to the state.
Diri, who announced this on Thursday at a send forth organised by the Bayelsa State Permanent Secretaries Forum in Yenagoa, stated that the cash gift was a token of appreciation from the government for their meritorious service to the state and the nation.
While appealing to the former top civil servants to make themselves available whenever they were called upon to serve in the future, he assured that his administration will be up to date with the Payment of gratuity and pension.
He disclosed that plans are being put in place to collaborate with pension managers to ensure that retirees received their benefits as of when due irrespective of the government in power.
In a statement by his chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor said that: “One of the focal points of every civil servant is that when they retire they expect their pension on monthly basis.
“We have promised not to treat our senior citizens with levity and would like to keep that promise as long as we remain in the saddle of governance in Bayelsa State.
“Today, we are celebrating you for the meritorious service you rendered to your dear state. I join in thanking and calling you to continue in the fashion that you have done while in service and to render services now as senior citizens of our dear state in terms of advice from the experience you have garnered over the years,” he said.
Chairman of the Retired Permanent Secretaries, represented by Chief B.F. Amakiri, while commending the governor for his promise to be prompt in the payment of pension, noted that the governor’s love for retirees in the state is unmatched by any other governor in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, pensioners in the state were not feeling the financial challenges that come with retirement due to prompt payment of their benefits.
He expressed the forum’s support for the administration and appealed to the governor not to relent in his developmental initiatives.
His words, “You have done very well. We have colleagues and have been to neighbouring states but here is nothing to compare to this. At the end of every month, there is no difference between retirees and those still in service.
“The gratuity we receive each month, you have placed a mandate that it is first to retire, first to get paid. And this is being followed religiously to the letter.”
In their goodwill messages, the Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly Mrs. Ebiowo Koku-Obiyai as well as chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Peter Singabele, commended the governor for not neglecting retired workers.
Also speaking, the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, who congratulated the retirees for successfully serving the state without blemish, added that their services will be needed for the growth of the civil service due to their experience.
