Pensioners flay FG’s alleged refusal to implement increase in pension arrears’

Members of the Delta state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUOP) have flayed the Federal Government on its alleged refusal to implement the 33 percent pension arrears’ increase approved since July, 2016.

The pensioners also lampooned the state government for her unwillingness to pay their outstanding arrears, alleging that secret efforts to sabotage their interest in the scheme of things may prepare them for a protest in no distant time.

Unconfirmed sources had hinted our reporter that over six of the pensioners had recently died of hunger after their efforts to receive their pension from the state government failed.

But the state chairman of the union, Ogbueshi Robert Chukwunyem, said his members are faced with serious hardship of paucity funds to meet some of their domestic demands, coupled with the present economy recession.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, had last Monday reacted to the unpaid outstanding arrears of the pensioners, disclosing that the state government had released over N2 billion since its inception for the payment of pensioners.

Ukah, who spoke to journalists on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s giant strides in the state, said: “the state governor is very passionate about the welfare of pensioners and had released over N2 billion to settle their payments. He is ready to do more as soon as funds are available.”

Ogbueshi Chukwunyem, while calling on federal and state governments to address their plight as the yuletide season draws near, calling on them to step up efforts in the preparation and payment of December pension before Christmas, moreso as they carter for their needs.