Nigeria Union of Pensioners Appeals to Northeast Governors to Pay Gratuities & Review Pension.
Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has appealed to state governors in the Northeast zone to settle outstanding gratuities owed its members, review pension after every five years and increase salaries of civil servants with a view of improving their standard of living.
The National Vice President, Northeast zone of the union, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Ahmad, who made the appeal in a press release issued to journalists on Monday in Bauchi, said that pensioners, who rendered service to their states and country, need to be well treated by the government.
“As elderly citizens, pensioners remained focused on the major political promises made by their respective leaders, most especially governors during the recent general election. Though, it is our civic right to be part of the juicy democratic system, we have confidence in the fulfilment of their promises. Our prayer now is the settlement of all gratuity and pension arrears and upward review of monthly pension every five years or an increase in salary and wages to civil servants whichever comes earlier.”
“The issue of gratuity and pension arrears have started to move a step forward in many of the north eastern states, as the Bauchi State government under Bala Mohammed has recorded a positive giant stride on the issue of Bauchi State pensioners; N100 million was duly paid in August and subsequently N200 million was also paid in September 2019 to both local government and state pensioners with expectations of getting higher than the previous payments every month.
“Governor Babagana Umar Zulum of Borno state has also made good attempt by paying N1 billion in the month of July and August to the Borno State pensioners. Thus, this implies his kind heartedness toward addressing pensioners’ plight.”
“In the same vein, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has paid N1 billion and another N100 million to state pensioners, which we hope the same will be replicated to the local government pensioners. There is hope that more will be paid in subsequent months, which we find very commendable.”
“In another development, Governor Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe State has paid N600 Million to settle the backlog of gratuity, hence he has been a good successor of Governor Gaidam which Nigerian pensioners recommend him to be their most friendly governor,”
”Lastly, we are calling on Government at all levels to frame a reliable blueprint for the development of the teeming Nigerian pensioners. Thus, this will be done by upward review of monthly pension as many pensioners in Nigeria receive as low as N3,000, hence we will not remain on our toes until section 173(3) and section 210 of the 1999 constitution as amended which states that “pension must be reviewed every five years or together with any increase in civil servants salary whichever comes earlier” is being immediately put in place,” he said.