Pensioners lament over unpaid gratuity, urges govt to harmonize pension in Kogi

By Godwin Usman, Kogi

Pensioners has lamented over unpaid gratuity, especially in the local government areas of Kogi state, and however appealed to the state government led by governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo to look into it.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the pensioners equally urged the state government to harmonize the payment of pension in the state.

The Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners Kogi state chapter, Mr. Clement Ohida made the appeal shortly after the Central Working Committee Meeting of the Union held in Lokoja on Wednesday.

The NUP chairman, Ohida, equally applauded the Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo over what it described as an appreciable improvement in the percentage payment, paid to Pensioners after the payment of February pension.

He also appealed for the harmonization of pension for Pensioners who retired several years back.

Ohida further opined that, the payment of 100% pension to Pensioners in the State is achievable based on the Federal Government policy, asking that all arrears of pension be cleared.

“while we are appreciating the State Government for where we are, we believe that payment of 100% pension is achievable”.

” We call on the Government to look into the aspect of payment of gratuity as this will help cushion the economic situation of our Pensioners” he stated.

He noted further that, it is not normal that Pensioners should be paid percentage pension, adding that, the appreciation the Union is making is occasioned by the fact that Local Government Pensioners have had to live with percentage payment of pension for several years.

” We are coming from a situation where Pensioners have had to live with 30-35% of their pension for whatever reason. But progressively we’re now on 85% reason for the appreciation”.

“We are not unaware that many of our people are not happy about this development of percentage pension. But the fact that whatever you cannot get by fighting, you may not have a choice but to apply deplomacy to still arrive at it”.

” As a Union, we’re ready to bend backwards, reason why we’re appreciating the Government and also asking for more in the areas of 100% payment of pension, harmonization and payment of gratuity”.

“We equally appeal to the State Government on the need to harmonize pension in the State. We have pensioners who retired several years back and what they take is nothing to write home about”.

“Some states have implemented what is called minimum pension making Pensioners take home something reasonable. In Kogi, we still have Pensioners who take as little as N5000. Now when that amount is paid based on percentage, you can imagine what it means for such a Pensioner”.

The NUP chairman, Ohida however assured the state government of the support and cooperation of Pensioners in the State.