Edo pensioners hail Obaseki 

Government seeks foreign investors in agric, energy

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Edo State Council, Comrade Pullen Noruwa has commended Governor Godwin Obaseki’s effort on the recently concluded pensioners verification exercise by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), adjudging it as the best the country has had.

Comrade Noruwa gave this remark on Wednesday when he led the executive members of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.

He also expressed satisfaction at the hospitality of the process as participants were seen going home with extra packs of food, soft drinks and other items. Noruwa said the verification process was well organised and the welfare of pensioners was given due consideration during the process.

The Chairman, however, appealed to the state government to review the state of the Edo State Pension Board by creating a Pension Bureau as alternative means to settle pension issues especially on cases of pensioners not able to access their files.

Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki admonished pensioners to remain confident, adding that his administration is determined to pay all arrears owned to them. “I want to assure you that l am on your side. We have to make you comfortable; that is the service we owe you, as a government, having served the state”.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, has called on foreign investors to take advantage of the friendly, enabling and thriving environment in the saying thatEdo State is safe and conducive for investors to engage in large-scale investments.

The governor gave this assurance, yesterday, when he received a delegation of Chinese investors on an official visit to the State.

Represented by his deputy, Hon Phillip Shaibu, Governor Obaseki urged the Chinese investors to explore Energy and Power, as well as the Agricultural environment of the state.

He also assured the delegation, which was led by the Chairman of Skyrun Corporation, Mr. Xie Shao, that apart from its peaceful nature, Edo is endowed with vast fertile land as well as enough natural and human resources  to encourage large-scale investment.

Obaseki informed the visitors that the state government is already creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign businesses to thrive with emphasis on security, energy and Power.

He however emphasised that the Governor is committed to reducing unemployment drastically, adding that the 200, 000 jobs promised by the government would become a reality.

The leader of the Chinese investors group and Chairman of Skyrun Corporation, Mr Xie Shao revealed that their visit was to intimate the Governor on their interests and plans to engage in the expansive business environment of Edo State.

Shao specifically indicated interest in manufacturing and Agriculture, adding that the investors want to start manufacturing of home appliances in the state.

Also, the National coordinator of the Nigeria-China Business Council, Chief Matthew Uwaekwe, who was part of the delegation, said that the Chinese company has been doing business in Nigeria over ten years, and that Edo is their new destination.