The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N25. 000 as wage award to pensioners in the country.
NUP President Comrade Godwin Abumisi who gave the commendation at the 2023 Pensioners Day Thursday, however called on the federal government through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betty Edu, to include the pensioners on the palliatives distributions.
Comrade Abumisi further called on the minister to expedite action on the payment of the N25. 000 wage award approved for the senior citizens in order to reduce the sufferings of the Pensioners.
“The Union wishes to commend the Federal Government for its commitment to the welfare of the pensioners by graciously approving N25, 000 as wage award to vulnerable pensioners.
“We trust that the Hon. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs who is entrusted with the responsibility of handling the payment would expedite action on the payment without further delay in order to assuage the pains and sufferings of the pensioners/Older Persons”.
Speaking on the theme of 2023 Pensioners Day “Subsidy Removal and its Negative Effects on the Lives of the Pensioners/Older Persons”, the NUP president said it was chosen due to effects of the policy on the senior citizens,” he added.
Abumisi further said: “This carefully chosen theme is very apt, as it is in tandem with the prevailing economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the evil of Naira redesign policy which had further pauperized the already choked pensioners, and of course older persons alike who are facing acute poverty, neglect, deprivations, hopelessness and in most cases premature death due to inability to afford drugs to treat ailments associated with old age.
“Regrettably, the pensioners who fall in the category of the most vulnerable persons in Nigerians with their peculiar challenges are always left out in the distribution of material and non-material palliative packages.
“It is on this that we wish to draw the attention of the Federal Government via the office of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu who is passionately committed to fighting the course of the poor vulnerable Nigerians to consider the inclusion of pensioners in the ongoing distribution of palliative packages, both within and outside the shores of the Federal Capital Territory, towards cushioning the biting effect of the economic hardship unleashed on Nigerians as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.
“On this note, we wish to suggest to the Federal Government that for any approved palliatives to get to our members across board, it should consider the use of Government Agencies that handle pension payments, with accurate database records, containing the account details of all pensioners for easy access and delivery”.
