Bimbo Adekanmbi, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has pledged to prioritise workers’ welfare and pensioners’ entitlements if elected governor.
Adekanmbi made the pledge on Monday during an interactive session organised by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, at the Pensioners House in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the candidate commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his efforts towards improving pensioners’ welfare, promising to sustain and surpass the achievements of the incumbent administration.
He assured pensioners that salaries, gratuities and other entitlements would receive priority under his administration.
“I have a listening ear and I will not tell you what I will not do.
“I will continue to pay your entitlements as and when due; you will not suffer,” he said.
Adekanmbi also promised accelerated development across the state, noting that he had toured almost all the 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and understood the challenges confronting residents.
Addressing farmers’ concerns, he pledged improved irrigation, mechanisation, agricultural extension services, value-chain development and the provision of farm inputs to boost productivity and income.
“I want to position the state for competitiveness, for wealth creation in order for Oyo State to attain its space in the comity of states,” he said.
Earlier, the Oyo State NUP Secretary, Dr Olusegun Abatan, said the union traditionally organised interactive sessions with governorship candidates to assess their plans for pensioners.
Abatan said pensioners remained active and politically relevant despite retirement, adding that they were organised enough to influence the choice of governor.
He warned that candidates who declined the union’s invitation would not receive the support of its members, arguing that such refusal could indicate a lack of commitment to pensioners’ welfare.
The secretary described the union as non-political, non-religious and non-ethnic, saying members would support candidates based on their records and positive contributions rather than party affiliation.
“I make bold to state that we have used our population of about 50,000 and our dependants to install and send past administrations packing,” he said.
The Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Kayode Martins, also urged Adekanmbi to ensure pensioners were not neglected while addressing workers’ welfare if elected.
