The request was made by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Akwa Ibom State, urging Governor Umo Eno to consider including union members in the government palliative programs and minimum living pension plan.
During a press conference at the union’s headquarters on Uko Eshiet Street in Uyo, the state capital, the chairman of the NUP, Ekpenyong Ekpo, expressed disappointment over the exclusion of union members from past palliative distributions, emphasizing the importance of supporting elderly and ill members.
Ekpo emphasized, “Our concern is that previous palliative efforts did not reach our pensioners. It is essential that pensioners, many of whom are elderly and unwell, are considered in these relief initiatives to offer them much-needed support.”
He also called on the government to fulfill the Federal Government’s approval by implementing the minimum living pension for pensioners,” Ekpo stated.
The union’s Secretary, Cosmas Essien, commended the governor for settling outstanding gratuities for civil service pensioners up to 2018, Local Government pensioners up to 2014, and retired primary school teachers up to 2012, as mentioned in the press statement he read.
Furthermore, he urged the governor to ensure that the NUP is included in the committee overseeing gratuity payments to retired primary school teachers and their beneficiaries. He also appealed for the establishment of a pension board to oversee salary and pension payments to teachers and LG staff following the autonomy granted to local governments in the country.
Essien proposed that the establishment of such a board would provide pensioners with a direct avenue to relay their concerns to the governor and receive accurate information on matters concerning them.
Expressing gratitude to the governor for the additional N20,000 granted to pensioners receiving low pensions between N1,000 and N5,000 up to 2011, the union requested the implementation of the consequential adjustments and 20% pension review in line with the circular issued by the Salaries and Wages Commission.