Pensioners in the South-west region of Nigeria, Thursday cried out to the federal government over the non implementation of the 80 per cent minimum wage increment for pensioners.
They lamented that some pensioners still earn N300 per month.
The pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), South-west zone, said their plight became worsened under democratic dispensation, saying pensioners received worst treatment from civilian administrations than the military governments.
The pensioners from Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo and Lagos states converged in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital for their bi-monthly meeting.
The NUP Southwest zonal Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olusegun Abatan who spoke to journalists after the meeting said, it was regrettable that state governments still owe pensioners several months pensions and gratuities in their states.
He accused state governments of insensitivity to pensioners’ plights, saying; “It is quite unfortunate that, immediately we entered the Fourth Republic in 1999, the problems of pensioners in Nigeria became worse. In fact, we were having a good time under the military government than the present civilian government which started in 1999.
“It is criminal that we have governments that will be owing pensioners 56 months of unpaid pension, several months or several years of unpaid gratuities. Virtually all states of the South west are involved in this.”
For example, Abatan said, Lagos state government had refused to fully implement the 142 per cent pension increase which according to him was due since 1999, alleging that Imo state owes up to 70 months unpaid pension.
He said, “You will recall that some months back, there was minimum wage increase of N30,000. According to the constitutional provisions, it is imperative that when wages and salaries are increased, pensions also should be increased concomitantly or every five years, whichever comes earlier. But it is quite unfortunate that many wage increases have not been addressed by all the state governments.”
