The Federal Government has cleared 12 months arrears out of the backlog of 42 months arrears of the 33 per cent pension increase owed pensioners in the country.
The gesture came as the beneficiaries urged the government to ensure that the balance of 30 months was completed early so that the could enjoy the fruits of their labour and other benefits while still alive.
National President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Dr A.O Afolayan and the General Secretary, Mr Actor Zal, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, in Abuja, said it was a dream come true when the Federal Civil and Para-military pensioners started receiving payment alert for the payment of 12 months arrears out of the 42 months owed them by the Federal Government.
They said the pensioners were full of joy and praises for the government for the pleasant surprise package which came at a time when ordinary Nigerians, including the pensioners, were feeding from hand to mouth.
The officers of the union described the gesture as indeed a big relief to the pensioners and commended the efforts of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate( PTAD) and its new management under the leadership of the new acting Director-General whose initiative resulted into the payment.
They said: “The union, through its leadership, hereby, expresses satisfaction with the payment which came at the time Nigerian masses are going through hard times and opined that this is, indeed, the beginning of good things that will happen to Nigeria and, indeed, Nigerians in line with the saying that after the rain comes the sunshine.”
