Nigeria Content Online

The governor of
Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, yesterday said he is retiring from public
service after the expiration of his term on May 29, 2011.

Mr. Daniel said he will join the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners immediately he leaves office.

“I am going to
become a pensioner effective from May 29 when our tenure expires,” the
governor said during his administration’s valedictory meeting with
pensioners held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Mr Daniel, who
bagged the award of the ‘Pensioners Friendly Governor’ at the event,
said he had not found the past eight years as governor of the state an
easy job.

He, however, said he is satisfied his government did not make life difficult for pensioners.

“By the special
grace of God, till I handover May 29, whatever will make you happy I
will do. You have served the state, what left is for the state to serve
you, and since my assumption I paid pension regularly,’ Mr Daniel said.

The governor
pledged a new bus to pensioners’ union and assured members that he will
not leave any unpaid debt of pensioners when he leaves office next
month.

“I have said it, I
will not go leaving debt behind,” he said. “I want you elders to pray
for me to accomplish this. It is not easy to rule for eight years
without violence. I didn’t lie to you for eight years, so there is no
reason lying to you while leaving office.”

The Secretary of
the pensioners’ union, Bola Lawal, appealed to the governor to offset
the gratuity payments owed pensioners since October last year.

“It is on record
that you approved land for our secretariat, but I want to use this
opportunity to tell you that the last time gratuity paid was last year
September, so we appeal to you on this,’ Mr Lawal said.