Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Pensioners in Enugu State have appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to come to their aid by offsetting their arrears of pensions since February 2022.
The President of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Enugu State, Mr Ikechukwu Ekere, made the appeal in Enugu while speaking on the plight of pensioners in the state.
Ekere commended the Governor for his efforts in motivating workers in the state and urged him to look into the condition of retirees, especially the local government workers and primary school teachers.
He lamented that retirees of both the local government and primary school received their pensions in February 2022, while gratuities were paid to them last in 2005.
“The condition of pensioners in the state is not good at all, especially local government and primary school retirees.
“The governor is trying but he should look into the condition of these category of pensioners,” he said
Ekere said that the condition of pensioners in Enugu State was pathetic.
“Just few days ago I sent a message to HE congratulating him on Sun Man of the Year Award and to remind him that pensioners in the state are suffering.
“Even if it is to pay these LG and primary school pensioners two to three months pension; to enable them feed their families,” he said.
According to him, the money they were demanding was for drugs not to build house.
“When we are talking of this pension and arrears, some pensioners get as little as N400, 450 and N1000; so, it is not as if the money involved is that high that the government cannot pay,” he said.
The NUP president said that the two committees set up by the government have since submitted their reports and urged the Governor to look into the report with the view to implementing it.
