The Nigeria Union of Pensioners’ Zamfara State Chapter has complained that Governor Bello Matawalle’s administration has not paid accrued pension arrears and gratuities to its members.
Given the country’s high cost of living, the union called for an immediate increase in the pension amount to a national minimum wage of N30,000 per month.
Hassan Muhammad Gusau, the chairman of the Zamfara council, made an appeal through the media on Sunday in Gusau, the state capital, to commemorate 2021 Pensioners Day.
“Since 2002, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has recognized December 11 as Pensioners Day, and each year brings new opportunities and problems.”
“We’ve learned that some of the union’s challenges include a blatant disdain for our retirees, including the constitutional responsibilities of sections 173 (3) and 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic, as amended.”
“It states that every five years, or when a worker’s income is increased, whichever comes first, a pension review shall be conducted.”
“However, Governor Bello Matawalle previously stated that his administration will continue to release N100 million in monthly gratuities to state and local government retirees, which has yet to be fulfilled.”
“Another problem is that the PTAD now screens retirees with a federal share of pension through information technology or online.”
“We still don’t know why the N30,000 hasn’t been approved for retirees in the state, which is really discouraging because many pensioners still live on less than N3,000 a month.”
“As a result, the union requests an upward review of the amount that hasn’t been done since 1999.”
“As a result, the union demands that all outstanding pensioner gratuities be offset once and for all and that the state’s approved minimum pension be increased to at least N30,000 per month,” says the union.
