Make Our Life Your Priority – South West Pensioners Beg Governors

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, (NUP), South-West Zone, has decried the rate at which its members are dying in droves across the country due to poor health care, unpaid pension and gratuity.

The union’s leadership spoke in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, at the Annual South-west Zonal Council meeting, lamenting the negative impacts on its members due to the economic issues and insecurity that has bedeviled the country.

According to the NUP, South-West Publicity Secretary, Segun Abatan, who spoke on behalf of the pensioners, government should rise up and prioritize the welfare of its members, describing the trend as worrisome and detrimental.

While calling on other state governors to emulate Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, they charged their members to vote candidates that will prioritize their welfare ahead of the 2023 general election.

“The governors should emulate the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who  placed all retirees on Health insurance and this had reduced the level of deaths. The governors must put in place robust  health insurance for pensioners.”

He specifically condemned the Southwest governors for allegedly  failing to initiate timely implementation of the increment in pension that can match the economic realities of the nation.

“I regret to tell you that the governors have taken the issue of pension and gratuitues off their tables for consideration.

“Apart from Ondo and Lagos, other states have not paid the 33.4 percent pension increase, likewise the Minimum Wage consequential adjustment for workers.

“So our pensioners must study the political firmament very well, so that they won’t  vote for those that will make lives more miserable, but those that will make their lives better.

“The Southwest governors are also defaulting in the payment of check off dues to the union. If you are paying pension regularly and you are not paying check off dues, you can’t be boasting that you have paid in full.

“Lives of some people in the last seven years had been shortened in a brutish manner due to insecurity. We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to make the life of pensioners and other Nigerians safe by putting in place measures to check criminals.

“It was sad that when we were coming into Ekiti, Christians amongst us were reading Psalms and the Muslims were reciting for our safety.”