Pensioners want arrears paid

By Ayodeji Moradeyo

January 8, 2010 12:05AM

The federal government should effect the payment of all pension arrears owed retired civil servants since May 2009, an official of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has said.

The chairperson of the Ondo State Council of the union who is also its South West Zonal chairperson, Eni Olotu, said in Akure, on Thursday, that the non-payment of the arrears has caused an economic hardship for those affected.

Mr. Olotu listed other grievances the body has against the government saying that pensioners whose names were omitted since 2002 have not been paid. He also said the arrears accruing from six months of 142 per cent of 2001 and the gratuities to federal pensioners who retired five years ago have also not been paid.

The pensioners’ chairperson said the federal government has, for the past seven years, been violating the provisions of the Nigerian constitution as regards pension review.

“The Sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that pension shall be reviewed every five years or together with any Federal Civil Service Salary Review (or together with any State Civil Service Salary Review), whichever is earlier,” he said.

“This is a distress call. We are calling on the president of this great nation, Umar Musa Yar’ Adua to come to the aid of all pensioners. We are languishing in penury. We have one leg in the grave. We are at death’s door.”

Mr. Olotu also called on the Senate President, David Mark; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed; the Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and Ahmed Mohammed, the chairperson of the Senate Committee, Establishment and Public Service, to intervene in the matter.

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Reader Comments (5)

Posted by BIG BOSS on Jan 08 2010

Everywhere else in the world, Seniors are treated with respect and enjoy the fruits of many years of serving their Nation. In Nigeria, our Seniors are left to languish in penury. What they spent their life time sowing, they never harvest. Any wonder that there is so much thievery?

Posted by Immaculate on Jan 10 2010

I have never seen a country like this. The important things that need urgent attention are never taken serious until the last minute. I have onced shed tears for these Pensioners the day i withtness thier so-called verification Exercise! That does not bring fort any good. Why do they keep punishing these Elderly ones? Yet these country have somebody managing the office of d Head of civil service. Hello sir/ ma, wat are u doing? All witheld and unpaid payment should be paid as promisd so that dis people can smile again.

Posted by Area Boy on Jan 11 2010

what a sad spectacle...

Posted by Touched on Jan 11 2010

why does the government enjoy punnishing citizens, deprive pple of their entitlement. meanwhile the sum here is chicken change to their cursed children.

Posted by Alebiosu on Jan 11 2010

Now that monthly pension payment has become regular due to the introduction of e-payment by Government since May 2009, Government should now use the same determination to face the issue of payment of long-outstanding arrears. My parents are so happy about the e-payment of pensioners since they no longer have to travel to Abuja or the state pension office or beg anybody before they are paid. They even get SMS every month when the money has been paid directly into their bank account. God bless the current Head of Service of the Federation for taking this bold step that we heard some of the civil servants and their collaborators in the banks fought. All we are saying, please pay our parents their pension arrears too.