By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Taraba State, has endorsed Governor Agbu Kefas for the 2027 governorship election.
Alh. Mamudu Famlak, the NUP state chairman, made the declaration while flagging off the payment and enrolment of 1,134 local government retirees at the Taraba State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Jalingo.
The chairman disclosed that the senior citizens were moved by the governor’s prioritisation of retirees’ well-being and his continued efforts to redefine governance, which have so far attracted transformation in all sectors, placing Taraba on the global development map.
According to Alh. Famlak, Taraba was rated third among states with exceptional commitment to retirees’ welfare at the last NUP National meeting in Abuja.
“We wish to sincerely commend Governor Agbu Kefas for his passion for the well-being of both local government and state retirees.
“Considering the governor’s commitment to retirees’ welfare, Taraba State was rated third among states with exceptional commitment to senior citizens, which earns him a chance for the NUP National award.
“As senior citizens of Taraba, we wish to declare our total support for Governor Agbu Kefas in the 2027 governorship election. This endorsement is to appreciate the governor for the work done so far that has placed Taraba on the global map among the top best Nigerian states,” he said.
Mamudu Famlak also expressed gratitude that the pay-rolling of Comr. ElNathan Bila Auta, who was never a member of the NUP but had been parading himself as state chairman of the association, marked the end of an era.
“It is now clear for those who have been asking questions about whether Taraba NUP has two chairmen. The acclaimed chairman, Comrade ElNathan Bila Auta, has never been a member of NUP until today. You cannot be a member of an association and be its chairman.
“ElNathan has just been pay-rolled today, which makes him an automatic member as defined by the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, Hon. Abel Peter Diah, the chairman of the Taraba State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, assured that Governor Kefas was committed to ensuring good governance in both infrastructural and human development.
The former Speaker of the State House of Assembly commended the retirees for their patience and appealed for more support for Governor Kefas’ administration to succeed.
Responding on behalf of the newly pay-rolled retirees, Comr. ElNathan Bila Auta thanked Governor Kefas for considering the plight of retirees and promptly stepping in to pay them their dues.
He called on all pensioners in the state to commence campaigning for the re-election of Governor Kefas ahead of the 2027 governorship election.