Pensioners want Taraba govt to clear pension backlog with Paris club refund

The Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has called on Taraba State government to use part of the Paris club refund to clear the backlog of gratuities of state and local government pensioners as well as that of primary school teachers.  The pensioners in an emergency meeting held  in Jalingo, Tuesday, expressed […]

The Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has called on Taraba State government to use part of the Paris club refund to clear the backlog of gratuities of state and local government pensioners as well as that of primary school teachers. 

The pensioners in an emergency meeting held  in Jalingo, Tuesday, expressed dismay over  the attitude of the state government to the plight of pensioners.”

The state chairman  of pensioners association, comrade Hassan Abubakar  said in a speech that thousands of pensioners in the state were facing untold hardship due to nonpayment of  pension and gratuity.

Comrade Abubakar said: “There  is urgent need for  government to  release  funds to the local government pension board to commence payment of monthly pension and arrears to the affected local government/primary school teachers pensioners.”

He said over 700 local governments and primary school teachers who  retired from service were yet to be enrolled into monthly pension, adding that the retirees and their families were facing difficulty in feeding themselves.

Comrade Abubakar disclosed  that over 100  pensioners who were successfully screened  were yet to start  receiving their pension for over one year  and called on government to commence  payment of the pension without further delay.

The chairman of the pensioners disclosed that  the state government has not  implemented  pension harmonization, saying  there were a number of pensioners in the state who are receiving N5000 as a monthly pension.

He said because of the current problems being faced by pensioners in the  state many civil servants were afraid to retire  for  fear of  the unknown .