L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Commissioner for Labour , Productivity and Human Capital Development, Mr. Wole Adewunmi, presenting a cheque to one of the beneficiaries, Pa Ojumu Ilesanmi, during the flag-off of the second bactch of the States Social Security Scheme for Elderly Citizens in Omuo.
Ekiti State Government spends an average of N100 million monthly on its Social Security Scheme under which 19270 elderly citizens each collect a stipend of N5000 every month.
This Information was given by the State Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development, Mr. Apalara Wole – Adewumi while briefing the press on the activities of his ministry at a ministerial press parley organised by the State Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation held at the Cultural Centre, Ado-Ekiti.
Mr. Wole-Adewumi said that the Scheme was not only in fulfilment of the biblical injunction that we should honour and care for the elderly ones but in strict obedience to the Yoruba Culture and Tradition of caring for the elderly.
The Commissioner noted that the impact of the Scheme is being felt positively in all the nooks and crannies of the State such that many states of the federation are already approaching the ministry with a view to learning and adopting the scheme.
According to him, the idea which is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria is in fulfilment of the electoral promise made by Governor Kayode Fayemi when he was seeking the mandate of the people.
He explained that the first batch of the beneficiaries which was flagged off in October 2011 captured a total number of 10,084 elderly citizen of ages 65 and above.
The Commissioner also revealed that after running the scheme for a period of eight months and owing its wide acceptability, Governor Fayemi graciously approved a second enumeration exercise which produced a total of 34,050 registered elderly citizens out of which a total of another 9,186 elderly citizens were selected across the 16 LGAs as Batch B beneficiaries of the Social Security Scheme.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation in his welcome address at the parley said that a lot has been achieved by the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi in all facets of human endeavour in line with the 8-point transformation agenda of the Government since the administration came into office in October 2010.
Hon. Afuye said that the regular ministerial press briefings was to ensure that people build confidence in Government through assurance of accountability, transparency and good governance thereby fostering ownership of various Government programmes.
The Government Spokesman who said that the State is out to promote participatory democracy by being open in all its dealings solicited the support of the people for the administration with a pledge that the Government is out to better the lots of the people.
Last modified: June 21, 2012
