The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Southwest Zone, has urged governors to make the recently approved consequential adjustment resulting from the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act 2019 applicable to pensioners.
The union stated that the change was legitimate and had been approved by the Federal Government under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
The NUP South-West Public Relations Officer, Olusegun Abatan, decried inconsistencies in the payment of gratuities and pensions during the zonal council meeting in Lagos State.
“We are requesting that state governments in the Southwest address the entitlement of retirees. They have several months’ worth of unpaid pensions and gratuities, and this applies to all states in the southwest. This is extremely embarrassing and scandalous, even though some jurisdictions are still dealing with it within the limits of their financial resources.”
He urged southwest governors to make the necessary adjustments, adding that pension increases should reflect the new national minimum wage.
He bemoaned the country’s insurmountable health issues for senior residents, advocating a free health-care program for retirees.
“Because the hardship is becoming unbearable, we want state governors in the southwest to devise health-care programs for retirees. Those over the age of 60, in particular, should gain from the scheme. You are drug-free at the age of 60. We spend all of our money on drugs. We want the governors to help us; they can still benefit from our depth of knowledge in developing the state.”
He praised Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his kindness to retirees and urged him to construct a suitable secretariat for Lagos pensioners.
“We request that his excellency assist the Lagos Branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners with the establishment of a secretariat. It is rather shameful that only Lagos State lacks adequate accommodation out of the six states in the southwest. “Because Lagos State lacks a secretariat, we are hosting this conference in a rented hotel,” he explained.
Source: The Guardian
