Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, assured pensioners in the state that the state government will clear all pension arrears owed by the previous administration on or before the 28th of May 2027.

This was disclosed on Thursday at a solidarity rally of the Oyo State Union of Pensioners to the Governor’s office, Agodi, Ibadan.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Makinde, Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal, said the state government will continue to take adequate care of the pensioners, adding that Engineer Makinde has an interest in human capital development and the state is ready to tap from their wealth of experience through collaboration with pensioners from both the state and federal government.

In his remark, the Secretary of Oyo State Union of Pensioners, Olusegun Abatan, lauded Governor Makinde for his commitment to the welfare of pensioners. He applauded Engineer Makinde’s action, describing pensioners’ experience 16 years before his taking over governance as sympathetic and empathetic.

Abatan noted that Governor Makinde’s promise to clear all arrears of pensions on or before May 28, 2027, has given Pensioners hope for a better future.

On Thursday, pensioners from all geopolitical zones of Oyo State converged on the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, in their hundreds to appreciate the state governor for turning around their fortunes through the recent review of pensions in the state.

The pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, stated that the review has made Oyo State pensioners the highest paid state pensioners in the federation.

This was as the NUP, South-West Zonal Council, also lauded Governor Makinde for the review of pensions, which led to the payment of N25,000 as minimum pension to the least paid pensioner, the factoring of 33 per cent pension increase of 2010, the consequential adjustment of 2019, 20 per cent of pension increase and part of N32,000 minimum wage across board for Oyo State pensioners.

The South-West NUP, in a letter dated 12th February, 2025 and signed by its chairman, Comrade Waidi Oloyede and secretary, Comrade Sunday Akin, expressed its gratitude to the governor.

Abatan, in a speech entitled “Resurrected Pensioners in Oyo State Appreciate Engr. Seyi Makinde,” praised the governor for changing the plight of pensioners.

He maintained that the governor started on a great note when he assumed office in 2019 by paying gratuities that were “criminally held down for a whole eight years,” started paying pensions on the 25th of every month and crowned the efforts with the latest review of pensions after all entreaties to previous administrations failed.