COVID-19: Prioritise welfare of pensioners, elderly, NUP urges FG

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has called on governments at all levels to prioritise the welfare of its members and the aged while distributing palliatives and other relief materials aimed at cushioning the effects of the lockdown.

In a statement issued by the General Secretary of NUP, Elder Actor Zal, the union also expressed fears over the safety of its members and the elderly in Nigeria.

He strongly appealed to all pensioners and elderly people to obey all the directives of the government and observe all the recommended safety procedures such as staying at home, use of face masks and regular handwashing with soap and water.

COVID-19: No face mask, no public movement in Ebonyi -Gov. Umahi

The fears, according to the union is based on the reports from medical experts, that coronavirus is unfriendly to aged people, while those above 65 years old are the worst hit and hardly survive the pandemic.

“Having critically analysed the situation in the country upon the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, the national headquarters has decided to extend the shutdown of its activities from April 24 to May 27.

“In line with the last press release from this office dated March 24 and the increasing number of coronavirus victims in our country, it becomes very necessary for safety measures to extend the shutdown of the union’s activities for the next one month.

“Therefore, the union activities shall resume officially on May 27 by which time we expect this pandemic to have been contained to the barest minimum and a vaccine for the virus would have been found.

“However, this decision is subject to further directive by the federal government/state government on the ongoing lockdown.

“Equally, we wish to appeal to the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to consider the inclusion of pensioners in the palliative packages as requested earlier,” Zak said.