The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Nasarawa State chapter, has commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa for reviewing pensions and clearing arrears of gratuity and pension in the state.
The pensioners said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lafia.
The NUP Chairman, in the state, Mr Hudu Baba-Abdullahi, said that senior citizens in the state have never had it so good in the history of pension payment like now.
He said that the governor had kept his promise of reviewing the payment for pensioners and clearing the arrears of both gratuity and pension, during his inauguration in 2019.
“Sule met a terrible mess which included payment of pensions in percentages and nonpayment of gratuity as and when due.
“Today, the payment of pension in percentages had stopped and all the arrears had been paid.
“The gratuity that was paid in piece meal of N20 million and usually accompanied with names by previous administrations was increased to N340 million and on quarterly basis,” he said.
Abdullahi appealed to pensioners to set aside sectional, religious and tribal sentiments and support the re-election of Sule for continuity.
Alhaji Danjuma Ayitogo, a retired permanent secretary and Chairman, NUP, Keana Local Government, said the pensioners in the local government received their pensions before the civil servants could receive their salaries.
“We are giving him the assurance that all pensioners in Keana Local government are solidly behind him; we will demonstrate it in this election,” he said.
Ayitogo appealed for more funds from the government for the payment of gratuity to enable retirees get enough money to build their own houses.
“The least paid pensioner receives N5, 000, we want the governor to increase it to N30, 000, because as at today N5,000 does not have purchasing power,” he said.
Mrs Lydia Irekpita, Leader of NUP, Women Desk, Nasarawa state, thanked the governor for changing the narrative of pension payment.
She said he had also rescued pensioners from percentage payment as practiced by past administrations.
“Since the beginning of the Sule-led administration till date, pensioners have been receiving their pension in full and on time.
“All we need to do to pay him for all he has done is to support him in his re-election bid,” she said. (NAN)
