By Richard Akintade
Worried by the protracted and rising cases of avoidable deaths of pensioners in the Country, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, have called on government to urgently attend to the payment of pension arrears and all emoluments dues to pensioners.
The NUP made the call during the South West Zonal Meeting of the Union held in Osogbo, the Osun state capital weekend.
According to the zonal spokesperson of the union, Comrade Olufemi Abatan, the pensioners in the country especially in the Southern part of the country have become ‘drug addict’ as a result of frustration.
Abatan noted that, state chapters of the union in some zonal areas were in court with their state government on issues relating to delay in payment of pension arrears and others entitlement.
He mentioned, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo were the payment of pension arears were not attended to as a matter of priority by the governors of these state.
Comrade Olufemi also lamented that, the 142 percent increase in pension arears were not paid by these state including Lagos State.
He said, the union have reached a decision that they would not vote for any anti-pensioners party, adding that the senior citizens of the country who have toiled day and night for the betterment of the country through their services demanded to be treated well.
The South West PRO of the union also stressed that, the union is in tandem with Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in demanding for #30.000 as what is good for the geese is also good for the gander.
Earlier in his speech, the Osun state Chairman of NUP, Alhaji Ganiyu Olasunkanmi Salawu, applauded the union members for their steadfastness in propagating the demand of the union in their various states.
He brought to the notice of the meeting a decision of the Tactical Committee of the union in Osun to drag the state government to court in furtherance of pressing home their demand.
He said, the first hearing in the legal tussle with the state government came up in the National Judicial Court, Akure on Wednesday 16th January, 2019, which marks a glorious advancement in pursuing their goal.
Salawu, however urged members of the union not to relent but continue praying for a government that will be pensioners friendly in the country.
