Pensioners would soon embark on mass protests in states that have failed to meet their obligations in pension payments.
The President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Mr. Goodwin Abumisi, told state governors that prompt payment of monthly pension to pensioners is a right and not a privilege.
Abumisi said this on Sunday in a message to mark the 2021 Pensioners Day celebration in Abuja, with theme “Enhancement of Pensioners Welfare through Information and Communication Technology”.
He urged state governors, nonchalant in paying monthly pensions to pensioners, to have a change of heart and do the needful.
He said that failure to do that, the union would mobilise its members nationwide and match to erring government houses to demand their rights.
“Our major challenges have been with the state governments, many of whom have become emperors in their various states.
“They govern with iron hands in a democratic setting as ours. I wish to place on record that payment of monthly pension to the pensioners is a right not a privilege.
“I use the occasion of this year’s celebration to call on such non-challant governors to please, have a change of heart and do the needful, before we march to the erring government houses to demand for our rights,” he said.
Abumisi decried the fact that the constitution did not prescribe any punishment for such erring governors who treat pensioners with disdain.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to impress it on the governors to stop inhuman treatment of pensioners.
Abumisi said the Federal Government should find a constitutional means of ensuring that various bailouts to the states not paying pensioners were not diverted but are judiciously used to the advantage of the Nigerian workers and pensioners in terms of payment of their salaries, pension and gratuities.
“It is disappointing and painful to note that while the Federal Government has released the enabling circular for the much awaited consequential adjustments of pension, effective from April 2019 and released funds to that effect, most of the state governments are yet to give effect to the circular as released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. This is unfair to the senior citizens.
“It is time for the governors to act on this matter.
“However, we deeply appreciate and salute the courage and magnanimity of some state governors who have been treating their pensioners with respect and dignity.
“We urge you to please keep it up as God would certainly reward your efforts,” he said.
Abumisi said the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up through the Federal Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and other relevant stakeholders, should urgently address health needs of the elderly.
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