Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), has commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for the release of N740billion for the settlement of the outstanding pension liabilities and promotion arrears. Announcing the release, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, admitted that the obligations had accumulated over the last two decades. NUP, in a statement by Elder Actor Zal, the General Secretary, also directed its members nationwide to enrol on the ongoing voter registration ahead of 2019 general election.
Th e union leader said that will aff ord them the opportunity to vote in those who are kind to them, and vote out unfriendly ones. “In a diff erent meeting held between PTAD, the National Assembly House Committee Chairman on Pension and the union, we were made to understand that the liquidation of all pension arrears will start in earnest. “We hereby appeal to our members nationwide to please exercise a little more patience, as the government is ready to facilitate the payment of all entitlements in due course through the treasury bills and bonds.
“Suffi ce it to say payments of the arrears of 33% pension increase, (18 months for civilian pensioners and 39 months for police pensioners) as well as the backlog of arrears of gratuities that were owed pensioners since 2001, shall be liquidated. “PTAD will equally commence the verifi cation of pensioners from the South West and North Central zones within few weeks from now. Th e dates and venues of the exercise will be announced as soon as funds are released through print and electronic media by PTAD accordingly,” the statement added. The NUP equally lauded efforts of the Chairman, House Committee on Pension, Hon. Hassan Shekarau and the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Bar. (Mrs) Sharon Ikeazor, for their efforts in this regard. “
We call on them and all other well-meaning Nigerians, to join hands with the federal government to ensure that this payment is done without further delay so as to assuage the pains and suff erings of our senior citizens who had worked selfl essly for a greater and indivisible Nigeria. “May we equally use this medium to direct all our members from the states, LGAs and parastatals across the country to take advantage of the on-going voter registration exercise towards equipping themselves with voter cards in readiness for the 2019 general election so as to cast their votes for and against those who have been treating them fairly and those who have been treating them with disdain and levity respectively”.
