Govs Yusuf, Bago, Others Bag Pensioners Friendly Governors Award
By Mustapha Salisu
His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, has been honoured with the prestigious Pensioner-Friendly Governor Award 2024 by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), in recognition of his commitment to the welfare of retirees in the state.
The award was presented on Tuesday during the 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the NUP, held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports that, also honoured with the Pensioner-Friendly Governor Award at the event were the Governors of Niger, Jigawa, Osun, and Plateau States, in recognition of their respective administrations’ commitment to improving the welfare of pensioners.
Receiving the award on behalf of Governor Yusuf, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the honour.
He emphasized the importance of people-centred policies to tackle the growing socio-economic challenges facing pensioners across the country.
Comrade Gwarzo described the hosting of the national event in Kano as a mark of honour and a reflection of the state’s long-standing commitment to labour rights and social welfare.
“This conference comes at a time when Nigerian pensioners are battling serious socio-economic difficulties. It calls for bold, deliberate, and compassionate leadership at all levels of government. In Kano State, we are committed to ensuring that our senior citizens, especially retirees, live with dignity and economic security after decades of service,” he stated.
He commended the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners for their resilience and steadfast advocacy, ensuring that pensioners remain visible in national policy discussions.
The Deputy Governor further stressed that the conference should not be viewed as a routine administrative gathering but rather as a critical platform for reflection and policy reform.
He urged delegates to generate actionable resolutions that would ensure the welfare of pensioners remains both a constitutional duty and a moral imperative.
Comrade Gwarzo also encouraged the union to collaborate with relevant government agencies to enable pensioners to benefit from federal economic empowerment programmes, particularly grants and support for small and medium-scale enterprises.
In a similar development, the Governor of Niger State, Farmer (Dr.) Mohammed Umaru Bago, was also honoured with the Pensioner-Friendly Governor Award by the NUP.
In his remarks, Governor Bago expressed appreciation for the recognition, saying, “Thank you for acknowledging our efforts in supporting elder statesmen who have served this country with their lives. I dedicate this award to all pensioners across Nigeria.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to reform the pension system in Niger State, assuring stakeholders that ongoing initiatives were only the beginning. “What we have started is a tip of the iceberg. Pension shouldn’t be rocket science. If you’re on a payroll as a civil servant, when you retire, it should flip automatically,” he said.
In a bold step towards pensioner empowerment, Governor Bago announced the launch of NUP demonstration farms in the state, an initiative designed to involve willing retirees in modern agriculture.
“Many pensioners may be old, but not all of them are tired. With mechanization, irrigation, and technology, farming has become easier. This initiative will help pensioners sustain themselves and contribute to national food security,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mazi Godwin Abumisi, JP, commended all the awardees for their dedication.
He also extended appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the release of N758 billion to the National Pension Commission to clear the backlog of unpaid accrued rights of contributory pensioners.
