Civil service, governors and the pensioners’ plight

Attaining sixty five (65) years or thirty five (35) years is the ceiling point in which one, employed in the civil service ought to leave the service into retirement. The only security for one to spend his working life in the public service is hinged on the pension, which he will be receiving at the […]

Attaining sixty five (65) years or thirty five (35) years is the ceiling point in which one, employed in the civil service ought to leave the service into retirement.
The only security for one to spend his working life in the public service is hinged on the pension, which he will be receiving at the end of every month and the cumulative gratuity. But Nigeria pensioners in the public service especially in the states are having it tough and this is as a result of the non-challant attitude of the various governors.
It won’t be a surprise for one to see, that in some states, the government owes its pensioners a huge bulk of millions of naira. This can be in form of nonpayment of gratuities and the pension or paying pension without gratuity.
Countless number of pensioners slumped and die as a result of fruitless verification exercises in various state in the federation.
The pensioners at all level of government have been subjected to severe pains following the government’s inability to pay their pension entitlements. This action resulted in those still in service to fully engaged in various forms of corrupt practices, because they are of the strong conviction, that whenever they retire from the service, they may fall into the same quagmire.
It is imperative for the states house of assembly to wade into the issue, so that those retired could be paid their rights. The governments should be compelled to adopt the contributory pension scheme and be enforced. This is a sure leeway to ease the problems.
The governors need to appreciate the efforts and sacrifice made by the pensioners towards nation building. If the civil service machinery needs to efficient, it is necessary for the governors to consider pensioners. 
The efficiency of the once vibrant civil service is at its lowest ebb. And this was accentuated by the way and manner, the pensioners are treated after leaving the service.
The Governors should concentrate on the way out of the plight of pensioners through ensuring, that whoever leaves the service got his or her entitlements at the right time before his or her death.
In fact, it is worth saying that some governors have damaged the fabric of the civil service as it is common now to see, that contractors are now doing jobs expected to be handled by civil servants.
It is important to go back to the drawing board and get things better for the full utilization of the civil servants. Let the governors strive to seriously reform the pension scheme and implement prompt payments.
Usman Santuraki, Jimeta-Yola.