Oyo Pensioners: Makinde commissions ‘Sure Healthcare Hospital’ in Ibadan

*…Reiterates commitment to improving welfare of workers, pensioners*

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state, promising to always make sure they live well and happy. 

He gave the pledge on Wednesday during the commissioning of Sure Health Care Hospital Limited built by Nigeria Union of Pensioners Oyo State Council at Onireke GRA, Agbarigo Area, Ibadan.

Governor Makinde, who was represented by his Deputy, Barr. Abdul-raheem Adebayo Lawal, noted that the current administration is working assiduously to ensure that workers and pensioners receive their wages on time.

He lauded the state excos for its contributions to the socio economy of the state by establishing the hospital stating that healthy minds can only think very well. 

He equally commended the current excos for their cooperation with UCH, labour leaders, and others, emphasising that pensioners and Oyo state residents will receive proper attention. 

He said: “Oyo State is lucky to have excellent leaders like Comrade Abatan leading pensioners in the state.

“In terms of effective representation and leadership, Oyo is undoubtedly a leader. 

“The state chapter union should be emulated in the country because of the accomplishments of the state’s pensioners, which include the establishment of the world’s first radio station and the construction of the first most opulent secretariat by people who have been consigned to the Dustin, among others.

“We need to also commend the NlC in the state for its support and cooperation with Oyo state government. 

“His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, out of his good heart and leadership, said workers must live well and he pegged the minimum wage to 80,000.

“As regard your demands, government will look into it and whatever will promote good relationship between government and pensioners, it will be embarked upon by Makinde led administration. 

“It is my prayer that this hospital will be a health center hat will be crating for the well being and good health of pensioners and non pensioners also.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the state chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Isiaka Abimbola Abolade, said the occasion is another historical event in the life of Pensioners in Oyo State. 

He said: “This is another great land mark achievement for the Pensioners of Oyo State as | congratulate you all. I want to sincerely appreciate the “Dreamer” whom God had used to erect this magnificent building – ‘Dr. Olusegun Abatan’ may Almighty God grant him long life and prosperity. (Amen).”

On his part, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, the secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo state, said the conception of the idea of setting up a Hospital for Oyo State Pensioners and the public was made out of two important life-threatening factors. 

According to him, “The first factor was when I had a heart attack on November 5, 2011 and had to be flown to India for a bypass surgery lasting about five hours and the attendant insult passed on Alican Leaders by the Head of the Hospital. While attending to me, he queried “why do you Africans come illaila for mesicalattention?. I was livid with rage and if had a choice l could have walked away from that Hagalal. pledged to God thatifi ever ieft hat tospital, I would work in tandem with our Union’s excos to establish a hospital for Oyo State Pensioners. 

“The second factor was the way our Pensioners were dying like fowls during the locust years preceding the coming of Engineer Seyi Makinde as Governor of Oyo State. is one diessinal or yo State Pensioner. In two years we lost 560 pensioners. Then pensions were not paid as and when due, where pensions were paid they were paid in instalments spreading one-month pension over three months. Gratuities of retired Primary School Teachers were not paid for complete years. Appeal to the then government to pay our Pensioners their entitlements so as to attend to their health fell on deaf ears. There was no health program for Pensioners either here in Oyo State and by the Federal Government. 

“I introduced the idea of having a Hospital for our Pensioners and the public to the ever-loving progressive members of Oyo State Exco and they embraced it. This is the result of that decision hatched about two and a half years ago.”

Comrade Abatan however extended appreciation to the present Oyo State Council for giving him the enabling environment to bring about all first achievements in Oyo state council. 

He noted that the Oyo state secretariat named Africa model is the first most opulent secretariat ever built by pensioners in the whole of world by people who have been consigned to the Dustin. 

Adding that its radio is also the first labour established radio station in the whole world, Comrade Abatan stated that the newly built Sure Health Care Hospital being commissioned is the first pensioner established Hospital in the whole world.

“We pledge to give the best medical attention to our members and the public as we pursue our goal of making the Hospital one of the bestin Oyo State and the Country at large. Already Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) is partnering with us, Association of Resident Doctors at UCH have also pledged to be part of the programmes we want to give our people. I am also pleased to inform you that some retired top nurses from UCH have also indicated their willingness to be part of the train. NYSC, yo State has also pledge to post Doctors and Pharmacists to our Hospital.

“My speech will be incomplete if I do not express extreme gratitude on behalf of Pensioners to His Excellency, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde. Since he came on board the rate at which Pensioners die has reduced so much. His prompt payment of pension is the sole factor that makes the establishment of this Hospital possible.

However, Pensioners urge His Excellency to factor in 33% pension increase (2010); consequential adjustment (2019), 20% pension increase and N32,000 pension increase across board according to the April and September, 2024 circulars of the Income, Salaries and Wages Commission in the on-going consequential adjustment of wages and pensions. On this note I solicit your moral and financial support for our newborn Hospital. I thank you very much”, he said. 

The event was attended by wife of Oyo Former Governor, Mutiat Ladoja, Commissioner for Culture and Toursim, Wasiu Olatubosun, Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Segun Olayiwola; SA on Labour matters, Comrade Titilola Sodo and Chairman Local Government Staff Pension Board (LGSPB), Ademola Ige.

Also were royal fathers including the Okere of Saki land, Oba Khalid Olabisi; the Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oyediran and host of others.