Gov Fayemi, Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin; Deputy Speaker Hon Tunji Orisalade; Secretary to the State Government , Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi; Chief of Staff, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, at the launch of Phase 2 of the state Social Security Scheme for the elderly ...in Ado-Ekiti.
As the number of beneficiaries of the Ekiti State’s Social Security Scheme was increased to 25,000 on Friday, the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has assured that the life-enhancing scheme which provides N5,000 monthly stipend to elderly citizens above 65 years, has come to stay.
The Governor who gave the assurance at the second anniversary of the implementation of the social security scheme which is the first of its kind in West Africa, reiterated the commitment of his administration to providing monthly succour to the elderly citizens, even as the scheme is already backed up by a law in the State.
Dr Fayemi who inducted another 5,000 elderly citizens to the existing database of 20,000, disclosed that the state government had expended N1.7 billion on the programme which is now been imitated by Osun, Bayelsa and Anambra states.
The Governor further stated that his administration, in pursuit of welfare packages for the elderly citizens, is in the process of setting up an Old People’s Home to cater for the well being of those who face extreme challenges at old age.
“I wish to reiterate that the provision of the social security monthly allowance for the elderly citizens has come to stay in Ekiti State. The legislation entrenching this is already part of the laws of Ekiti State. And as alluded earlier, a total number of 20,000 people are benefiting from the scheme to which an additional 5000 beneficiaries being included today makes some 25,000 beneficiaries of the scheme. Till date, a sum of over N1.7 billion has been spent on the programme”, Fayemi explained.
The newly inducted beneficiaries as well as the existing ones, according to Fayemi, are expected to complete a new enumeration form which is aimed at providing identity cards to prevent impersonation at the various payment centres.
“I have been inundated with complaints about people who impersonate and even collect the monthly stipends on behalf of some elderly people, who on the account of ill health, cannot make it to the payment centres but refused to deliver such money to the appropriate beneficiaries.
These and other unfortunate conducts have now informed the government’s decision to introduce a more scientific payment process that will involve the use of biometric data capturing system that will eliminate activities of ghost beneficiaries”, he said.
Justifying the government’s decision to give attention to the elderly citizens, the Governor explained that of all the age groups, the elderly people who have little or no social safety nets, appear to be the most vulnerable despite spending their most productive years serving the society.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development, Mr Oluwole Ariyo, asserted that the scheme has impacted positively on the lives of the elderly citizens.
Also speaking at the event, two of the beneficiaries, Pa Samuel Oyewole and Mrs Taiwo Abike thanked the Governor for his love for the elderly citizens and assured that they would continue to give him support beyond the present term.
The climax of the event was when the Governor spoke to the people in Ekiti dialect and danced with them, while they also prayed for him and the continuity of his administration so that they could continue to enjoy the scheme as well as other people-oriented programmes of the administration.
The official logo of the Social security scheme visual identity was unveiled at the event, which was also rounded off with an anniversary luncheon.
Last modified: October 27, 2013
