Pensioners urge governors to implement consequential adjustment

 Pensioners urge governors to implement consequential adjustment

 

•From left: NUP member Dr Joseph Okunade; NUP National Vice President (Southwest) Elder Ayo Kumapaiye; National Treasurer Chief Jokanla Joseph; National Trustee member Alhaji Nojeem Ibrahim Adebayo; Abatan and Southwest Secretary Olukayode Bada at the meeting.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Southwest zone, has urged governors in the region to implement the recently approved consequential adjustment for pensioners.

It noted that the Federal Government approved it under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme arising from the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2019.

At the union’s meeting in Surulere, Lagos, NUP Southwest spokesman Olusegun Abatan decried the irregularities in the payment of gratuities and pensions.

“We want state governments in the Southwest to address the entitlement of pensioners. Our retirees are suffering; some go home with as little as N1,000 per month. How will they survive? These are men and women who have contributed to the development of their states. They are being owed months of pensions and gratuity. This is very embarrassing and scandalous, though some states are still attending to them within the means of their financial strength,” he said.

He expressed bitterness about the health challenges of senior citizens, calling for free health scheme for pensioners.

“We want Southwest governors to fashion out health programmes for pensioners. Those above 60 years should benefit from the scheme. At age 60, you are drug compliant. We use all our money to buy drugs. We want the governors to assist us; they can still tap from our wealth of experience to develop the state.”

The group hailed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for being good to retirees and appealed to him to secure a befitting secretariat for Lagos pensioners.

“We appeal to his excellency to assist the Lagos State branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners with a secretariat. It is embarrassing that of the six states in the Southwest, it is only Lagos that does not have a befitting secretariat. This is why we are holding this meeting in a hotel,” he said.