*Flags Off Widows Welfare Scheme For 10,000 Beneficiaries
AT last, there appears to be a relief for pensioners in Delta State, as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the immediate release of N10billion to clear outstanding pension arrears owed retirees in the state.
Disclosing this in Asaba on Tuesday, August 19, during a meeting with the State Pension Board, led by the Chairman, Bureau of State Pensions, Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, and the State Chairman of the Association of Contributory Retirees, Anthony Ozu Osanekwu, Oborevwori said he convened the meeting to address pressing issues concerning the welfare of retirees, including payment of backlogs and migration challenges under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Highlighting his administration’s strides in the last two years, the governor said so far, a total of N36.4billion had been paid in pensions, while N1.4billion was released for payment of pensions monthly since he assumed office, noting that the state had not defaulted in meeting its monthly pension obligations under his watch.
Oborevwori, however, stated that the arrears, which predated his administration, must be urgently tackled, adding: “Our retirees are men and women who gave their best years in service to the state. It is only just that they receive what is duly owed to them, and under my watch, their welfare will remain top priority.”
To guarantee accountability, he announced the constitution of an oversight team to supervise the implementation of the N10billion release, stressing that transparency would be strictly upheld.
The gesture, he said, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of senior citizens who had laboured in service of Delta State.
In his remarks, Ogidi-Gbegbaje described the governor’s announcement as a “pleasant surprise,” assuring that the funds would serve as a huge relief to retirees and be used exclusively for pension payments, assuring that the system was programmed to ensure transparency and accountability.
Speaking to journalists, Osanekwu thanked the governor for his “unexpected and magnanimous gesture,” noting: “You took us unawares; what we were expecting was far less than the N10 billion you just approved.
“I am elated, and I know that when pensioners across the state hear this news, they will be very happy.”
Meanwhile, Oborevwori, on Monday, August 18, flagged off the Widows Welfare Scheme, designed to provide financial and healthcare support for 10,000 widows across the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, held at the Events Centre in Asaba, the governor recalled his long-standing commitment to the welfare of widows both in his private life and public service.
While describing widowhood as a painful circumstance that is never a choice, he said widows often face neglect and severe survival challenges after the loss of their breadwinners, adding: “Being a widow is not by choice, and it will never be anyone’s choice.
“Beyond the pain of losing a loved one, widows are left with the burden of survival. That is why this administration is determined to improve their living conditions and give them hope.”
Oborevwori said the scheme directly supports the second pillar of his administration’s MORE Agenda, which is: Opportunities for All, and a fulfillment of his campaign promise to run an inclusive government that carries everyone along, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Under the scheme, each widow will receive a monthly stipend of N15,000, to be paid directly into their bank accounts, with the governor assuring that payments would commence immediately, with beneficiaries receiving their first stipend of N45,000, covering three months in arrears.
In addition to the cash support, all beneficiaries are being enrolled into the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, which guarantees them free access to healthcare services at accredited hospitals and primary health centres across their localities.
“This health insurance is even more important than the stipends, because it ensures that no widow is denied medical care due to lack of funds,” he stated.
Oborevwori clarified that the scheme is non-political and cuts across all religious and ethnic divides in the state, adding that beneficiaries were carefully selected through a transparent and community-driven process covering the 270 federal wards of the state, involving community leaders, traditional rulers and civil society groups to verify claims of widowhood.
He said the delay in the flag-off was to ensure that only genuine widows were enrolled, while excluding those already employed or earning civil service salaries, so that the benefits go strictly to those most in need, especially the aged and physically challenged.
He assured that more interventions, including job creation and empowerment schemes for women and youths, will be rolled out soon, saying: “As we build roads, bridges and infrastructure, we must also invest in the welfare of our people. True governance is not just about physical projects, but about touching lives and giving hope.”.
Executive Assistant to the Governor on Social Investment Programmes, Isioma Okonta, who coordinated the scheme, described it as a historic milestone in Delta’s social investment journey, noting the initiative demonstrates the Oborevwori’s compassion and resolve to make government “a father to widows and a pillar of support for the poor.”
