The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Ekiti State Council has called on the state governor,Dr John Kayode Fayemi to come to their aids and liberate them from hardship facing by their members for non payment of Pension arears and Gratuities.
The pensioners at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti stated that the state government is owing both local/government pensioners three and seven months respectively.
They decried the rate at which their members are dying over hunger and financial incapacitation.
The pensioners however commended governor fayemi on the regular payment of monthly Pension since he assumed office as governor in October,2018,but calling on the governor to make the N100m allocation regular and to also increase the amount to be able offset the unpaid Gratuities.
The State Chairman of NUP ,Com. Joel Akinola said”the payment of the N100m allocation by the state government is irregular we humbly appeal to his Excellency to reinstate the N100m monthly allocation to liquidate the mounting unpaid Gratuities. This allocation has been quite irregular. We want to appeal that the allocation be increased from the N100m to a more substantial amount that will lighten the heavy debts”
The NUP chairman added that the effect of Nonpayment of their dues has been life-threatening to the pensioners whom he described as those who labours for Ekiti to become Fountain of Knowledge
He also appealed to the government as a matter of urgency to implement the newly approved Consequential Adjustment that has been signed into law by the Federal Government since April 2019
“We want to tell the whole world that we are not well treated, we have written many letters and consultations, we can not died in silence, we want to tell the whole world our plights.
” This kind of treatment encourage corruption in civil service, we are not well taking care of by the government, our people are dying of hunger, our children are also jobless” he stated.
“The State pensioners last received allocation of two hundred and fifty million for the payment of gratuities in February 2021, and this brought the list of beneficiaries to June 2013. The local government pensioners had allocation of one hundred million in July/August 2012/2013.
“Our members are old people who are vulnerable to all sorts of old age related ailments. They want their monthly pensions and gratuities to be paid regularly and on time to enable them take care of themselves and eat the fruit of their labour while alive. gratuities is not for our children, the pensioners should collect the gratuities while alive.
The NUP Chairman stated.