* Gesture will alleviate hardship – senior citizens
By Nudoiba Ojen
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has extended the sales of subsidized rice to pensioners in the state.
The Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, said that the government decided to extend the sales of the rice at discounted rates to the local government pensioners since the economic situation in the country cuts across all ages.
Onasanya spoke at Ita Oshin, Abeokuta, on Monday while monitoring the sales of discounted rice to members of the Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN) at their secretariat.
He urged the pensioners to take advantage of the gesture, saying the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration is pensioners’ friendly and seriously concerned about their welfare.
The HoS said that bringing the rice to the doorsteps of the pensioners was to eliminate any hardship they may likely face in purchasing the commodity.
He urged them to take advantage of the exercise and buy according to their levels while in service.
State Chairman of LOGPAN, Pastor Benedict Ademoye, described the gesture of Governor Abiodun as unprecedented, adding that it would go a long way to alleviate the hardship of the pensioners at this period of high cost of food items.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Bernice Lawal, who is the Chairman of Retired Primary School Teachers in the state, said this was the first time such a gesture would be extended to her members since she retired from active service in 2009.
Lawal gave her heartfelt appreciation to the government and Governor Abiodun for his efforts to make life bearable for them, even in retirement.
All the retirees at the sales point pledged their loyalty and support to the government and prayed for the success of the administration.
