Governor Agbu Kefas is being urged by retired civil servants in Taraba State to take swift action in settling the backlog of gratuity payments that has been pending for a decade.
Bakari Muhammed Tukur, a retired official of the Ministry of Co-operatives and Poverty Alleviation, made this plea during a press conference in Jalingo on Wednesday.
During the conference, Tukur stressed the pressing need to address the critical situation faced by pensioners in the state.
He highlighted the urgency of the matter by pointing out the health challenges and sudden deaths experienced by pensioners, and he called on the governor to come to their aid as a matter of urgency.
Tukur also appealed for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to promptly resolve the leadership dispute within the Union of Pensioners in the state.
Expressing confidence in Kefas’ administration, he called for unified efforts to clear the outstanding gratuity arrears spanning over a decade, believing that this action will ease the financial burden on those who dedicated years of service to the state.
Tukur emphasized the hardships faced by Taraba pensioners after retirement, citing issues such as delayed gratuity and pension payments, insufficient healthcare support, and challenges in financing their children’s education.
He further stressed the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure a dignified and comfortable life for Taraba pensioners.