By Moses John
Abuja
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has declared that its members across the country are owed 42 months arrears of the 33 per cent pension increase, calling on federal and state governments to ensure prompt payment .
According to a statement signed by the President of NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan and the General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, and made available to the media at the weekend, the union said the government was yet to pay 42 months, out of the 51 months arrears owed the pensioners.
The union regretted the earlier publication, which emanated from its National Headquarters that the remaining balance to be paid is 29 months, saying that the number of the remaining months, yet to be paid was miscalculated.
NUP explained that the total arrears owed the pensioners were 51 months, July 2010 to September 2014; while nine months were paid, leaving the balance of 42 months.
While commending the Federal Government for the payment of the nine months, the union appealed to the government to live up to its promise and pay the remaining balance of 42 months as soon as the 2015 Budget is passed.
“As the Nigeria Union of Pensioners continues to shower encomiums on the federal government for the payment of the 33 percent pension increase to pensioners, the national headquarters of the union wishes to draw the attention of the federal government and the general public to the error in the recent press statement which miscalculated the months of arrears of pensions owed the pensioners by the federal government.
“The said arrears is from July 2010 to September 2014 which is 51 months, out of which nine months had been paid leaving a balance of 42 months instead of the 29 months erroneously quoted in our earlier press release. The error is highly regretted.
“Once again, we admonish the Federal Government to live by its words and honour its promise of paying the balance of the remaining arrears of the 42 months as soon as the 2015 budget is passed.”
