Obaseki approves N21.3m contributory pension pay-out to families of deceased govt workers

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has presented a cheque of N21 million to the families of 10 deceased workers of the Edo State Government, as their benefit in the Life Insurance Policy of the State Contributory Pension Scheme.

Presenting the cheques to beneficiaries of deceased staff of the Edo State government, Governor Obaseki said families of every Edo State worker registered under the contributory pension scheme will not be abandoned as their benefits will be made available to them.

“We want to demonstrate to families of the deceased, civil and public servants as well as the people of Edo State that the government will never abandon them because their family member died in active service,” the governor said.

He said the scheme is less than two years old but that didn’t hinder beneficiaries from receiving some amount of money due to their enrolment into the pension scheme, noting “I hope now that our Labour Union is convinced that the presentation of cheques to families of deceased state workers is real. This is the second batch of beneficiaries in the state. Edo State government under my stewardship will never deceive Edo workers as we hold them in high esteem and it is our goal that workers get their full due.”

The governor expressed hope that Edo State workers will work with his administration to develop similar arrangements to own their own homes under a new home ownership arrangement.

“I am hopeful that by next year we will finalise our Health Insurance scheme so that workers don’t need to think about the cost of health care,” he said.

Obaseki called on the people of the state to repose trust in his administration as every action taken will be for their benefit, to whom the administration pledged to serve.

Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Ademoku, thanked the governor for rolling out the pension scheme as against the old order, which made it difficult for families of deceased workers to access their pension and gratuity as at when due.

“We are happy about the contributory pension scheme as we now know the benefits of the scheme. We are grateful to the governor for the peace and harmony in the state, as labour has not gone on strike in the last two years under the Obaseki-led administration. This is a pass mark for the government,” he said.