Ekiti University Pensioners Lament Over Unpaid N1.5 Billion Gratuity, Pension

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Universities Pensioners Association, (NUPA) Ekiti State University, (EKSU) chapter, has disclosed that the management of the institution is owing members about N1.5 billion unpaid gratuities.

They explained that unpaid gratuities span 15 years, while monthly pension has not been paid for five months.

The pensioners expressed concern over the non payment of their benefits by management of the institution and appealed to the state government to prevail on the management of the institution to attend to their needs so that they could heave a sigh of relief.

The pensioners, who spoke through their Chairman, Chief Samuel Akinwale in Ado Ekiti noted  that many of their members  were either dead or chronically ill because their dues were not paid and have no money to take care of their health challenges.

“We are calling on Ekiti State government to  intervene in this matter by bailing out the University through a special fund which may likely save our people from going to their early graves.

“Pensioners are not on strike but in retirement and should not be made to bear undue  punishment because a particular Union in the University is on strike.

The EKSU retirees appealed to the State government to  resolve with the striking lecturers in the institution to call off the strike and as well increase funding of EKSU particularly the monthly subvention.

Academic Staff Union, (ASUU) of the university, owned by Ekiti state government joined the nationwide strike called by leadership of the union.

Since the inception of Dr Kayode Fayemi’s administration, subvention to the university has been drastically reduced, while some workers laid off challenged their sack and reinstated on the orders of the National Industrial Court.

The state Governor elect, Mr Biodun Oyebanji is among pensioners of EKSU as he once worked there.