• Says economic importance determines priority, won’t be distracted by rhetoric
• Review our pensions, ease burdens, Ogun pensioners beg Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has explained why his administration is prioritising road development across the state. Abiodun cited the desire to shore up the socio-economic status of the state and the economic importance of infrastructure as major forces driving priorities.

He, however, restated his administration’s commitment to the delivery of dividends of democracy to every part of the state. According to him, his focused administration would not be distracted by the rhetoric of armchair critics and faultfinders.

Abiodun, who stated this in Abeokuta, the state capital, said his focus is to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and not to respond to baseless criticisms by out-of-favour politicians. He, consequently, declared that he would not be distracted by disgruntled politicians, who see nothing good in his administration.

MEANWHILE, pensioners in Ogun State, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), yesterday, urged Abiodun to consider a consequential review of pensions to mitigate the effects of economic hardship on the retirees occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The pensioners, in a letter to the governor, through the Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya and jointly signed by the NUP Chairman, Washeed Oloyede and the Secretary, Bola Lawal, expressed untold hardship experienced by the retirees owing to the inability of the government to address the consequential review of pensions.

Lawal, who spoke exclusively at the NUP’s Office at Leme, Abeokuta, the state capital, said it had become imperative for the Abiodun-led government to address the consequential review of pensions to save the pensioners from hunger and the high cost of food and living conditions occasioned by inflation.

The NUP Secretary, who also stressed that implementing the full Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) from July 2, 2025, for the retirees aligns with global best practices and guarantees future retirement benefits, however, said that the union would always support the current administration to ensure continued development in the state.