The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ekiti State has said the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government is making life more difficult for members across the state.
The chairman of NUP in the state, Joel Akinola, explained that the pensioners were worst hit by the excruciating economic pains in the country associated with the government policy, thereby making them more vulnerable.
Akinola spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday during the distribution of the 100 bags of rice to vulnerable members across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state donated to the union by the state government as palliatives.
He commended the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for considering pensioners as beneficiaries of the palliatives, adding that the gesture further proved that the governor was committed to the welfare and wellbeing of the senior citizens.
According to him, the best palliative government can offer the pensioners is the payment of all outstanding gratuities and pensions for members to attend to their needs and access healthcare.
He said, “First, I want to thank the Governor for considering us worthy to be part of the palliatives. As I used to say, it is the pensioners that are more vulnerable because of old age and some peculiarities associated with old age, especially during this period in the country.
Let me tell you that many of us are having very poor pensions to the extent that some are earning as little as N500 and N1,000 monthly, and you know that will not even get to the market, but with this palliative, though it won’t solve all the problems, at least it will give them some hope that the government remembers them.
“The rice should be given to the most vulnerable among us because we have many of our members that are really suffering; it will go a long way to assist them.”
On the expectations of pensioners from the government over the economic situation, Akinola said, “First, the government started by paying the arrears of pension owed us by past administrations, even though it is our right, but it came at a time we badly needed money.
“We still have more arrears of pensions and gratuities for them to pay us, and if they are paid, it will assist us in improving our livelihood during this difficult period.
“We are appealing to the government that another way of palliating the problem is paying our people their basic rights, which is the gratuity.
We still have two months of arrears for state pensioners and five months for local government pensioners.”
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
VIDEO: Alema of Warri buys customised 2023 Maybach for wife, Natasha
Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, in Delta, has bought a new vehicle worth millions of…
Call on God to kill me if … — Pastor Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has said to call on God to kill him if…
Military rejects requests to topple Tinubu’s Government — DHQ
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, has rejected requests by Coup instigators to topple the democratically elected Government of…
Petrol pump price may jump to N750/litre — IPMAN
The association’s national spokesperson, Mr. Chinedu Ukadike gave the hint while speaking to…
#BBNaijaAllstars: Food crisis looms as housemates lose weekly wager
Big Brother Naija All stars Housemates have lost the first Wager task, which means for the next week, there will be…
Heavyweight bout: Anthony Joshua knocks out Robert Helenius in seventh round
Robert Helenius was defeated by Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday after..
and then