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Tag: Pensioners

  • NUP commends Kaduna government over health insurance cover for 16,000 pensioners

    NUP commends Kaduna government over health insurance cover for 16,000 pensioners

    The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Kaduna State Chapter, on Monday commended the State Government for providing health insurance coverage to more than 16,000 pensioners in the state.

    The secretary of the union, Alhaji Alhassan Musa, made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna.

    Musa described the development as “very thoughtful”, adding that with the insurance cover, pensioners would no longer spend all their monthly stipends on medical bills.

    He explained that under the arrangement, pensioners would be required to pay only three per cent of their monthly pension, while the government covered the remaining 97 per cent of health care costs.

    He said that the pensioners health insurance scheme was introduced by the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) in collaboration with the Kaduna State Pension Bureau.

    “This is a good development for all pensioners in the state and we welcome it with all our hearts as another strategy of taking care of the aged population in the state,” he said.

    The secretary said that the union had, however, requested that the pensioners be enroled in secondary health facilities or any health facility of their choice.

    “This is because the major ailments of aged people are diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, sight problem, and prostate among others.

    “These are illnesses that are better managed at secondary or tertiary health facilities,” he said.

    On his part, the Director-General, KADCHMA, Malam Abubakar Hassan, said that the measure would lift the burden of out-of-pocket spending on health from pensioners in the state.

    Hassan explained that the initiative was part of KADCHMA effort to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health services in line with the goals of the Universal Health Coverage.

    He urged the private sector to take advantage of the health insurance scheme and enrol their families to enjoy affordable healthcare services without exposing them to financial risk.

    Similarly, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pension Bureau, Prof. Salamatu Isah, said that the insurance scheme would enable pensioners to direct their little income to other basic needs.

    “This in the long run, will improve the quality of their lives,” she added.

  • Enugu Workers, Pensioners will enjoy under Labour Party, says Media Office

    Enugu Workers, Pensioners will enjoy under Labour Party, says Media Office

     

    …ask all workers to Rrise and claim their mandate

    Labour Party has said that workers and pensioners in Enugu State will enjoy immediate and just reward for their work by ensuring that they are paid their wages as and when due.

    The party also reaffirmed that the era where retired workers and senior citizens, many of whom are being owed their retirement benefits since 2007 by successive administratios of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were denied their pensions and gratuities will come to an end as they will be given priority attention.

    This was made known by the Chijioke Edeoga Media Office while highlighting some of the key objectives of the administration if voted into power, come 2023.

    The party stressed that the 24 years of PDP in Enugu State is riddled with bad governance, wastage of public funds in policies and programmes which are self-serving, as well as electoral fraud, land grabbing, imposition of leaders from councillors to local government chairmen, legislative offices, among others.

    “The Labour Party, as the people’s party, will allow communities and wards to select their leaders. We will go back to the good old days when people will be chosen by their communities or wards to represent them as councillors or members of the state or federal legislature because of their good deeds.

    “The Labour Party in Enugu State will not write the names of would be councillors or members of the state House of Assembly and push such names down to the electorate as has been the case in the last 24 years. The communities or wards or constituents will be given free hands to elect their leaders or representatives. The selection will be from bottom to the top and not from top to bottom,” it stated.

    The media office insisted that Labour Party will not neglect primary school teachers or local government workers, adding: “We will not discriminate against primary school teachers of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE. We will not tell them that they are not core civil servants, because we know they are and we are all partners in progress. There will be no room for discrimination against workers and non- workers. Every labourer deserves his wage.”

    The party reiterated that primary school teachers and NULGE members are the main engine room in the development of any state “and Enugu State will not and can never be an exception. We shall treat everyone equal because we are equal before the law. The professor, the governor, the president, the senator or member of the House of Assembly or Representatives is taught first of all by the kindergarten or primary school teacher.”

    It called on all workers who feel aggrieved to be hopeful of a better dawn, and enjoined all to work towards electing Labour Party into government at all levels in 2023. It said: “Let us be Obedient supporters of Peter Obi, Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga and all other LP candidates. A new dawn is coming.”

  • Pensioners protest in Delta State – By Francis Ewherido

    Pensioners protest in Delta State – By Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    For personal reasons I have recused myself from writing about the Delta State Government, especially in the last seven years. I do not want to be misunderstood, especially now that the governor is a Vice Presidential Candidate in the next election. But something has snapped in my head and I need to put that self-imposed rule aside temporarily.

    My father died in 1988 without getting his entitlements. It had nothing to do with government though. A few individuals just wanted to play God. Like my father, most of them have gone the way of all mortals. The delay in the payment of his entitlements could have had enormous consequences if my eldest brother did not have the foresight to save part of his stipend for the rainy day. My two brothers and I would have dropped out of the university until my father’s entitlements were paid in 1990 or thereabout.

    That is partly why I am very angry with the current predicament of pensioners in Delta State. It is not peculiar to Delta State. Pensioners are being owed all over the country and it did not start today. But Deltans are my people, some of them might be relatives or family friends. Some are sick, while others cannot pay their children’s fees, rents and meet other commitments anymore. Some, like my father, will get their gratuity posthumously.

    When I heard about the blame game by officials of the Delta State government, as a result of the demonstration of pensioners in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, I was scandalised or better put in Warri language, “the nut for my head loose.” Instead of finding solutions to the problem, they are passing the buck. The explanation that the pensioners are former local government staff makes it even more annoying. What is the difference between local government and state governments in Nigeria? But for one or two states it is an open secret that state governments take local governments’ allocations and give them just enough to operate. The local government chairmen then divert the money left to build “country homes,” hotels and petrol stations. That is all they know how to do. I challenge those chairmen who have any tangible projects they executed for their people that are commensurate with the allocations they got to publish their report card stating their allocations and the projects they executed.

    In addition, there is a commissioner for local government affairs, what is his schedule of duties? Does it not include ensuring that the local governments serve their people well? These Delta State government officials are annoying some of us. They can claim that the pensioners are former local government staff. Yes, we know that the penis is different from the scrotal sack, but can you draw the boundary? Can you draw a difference between state governments and local governments even with the new era of financial autonomy of local governments? When you were having sex with a prostitute, it did not occur to you that she was a prostitute. Now she is pregnant for you, you realise she is a prostitute. It is fine to take local government money, but you shirk responsibility when you need to support them. The responsibility of government is to provide solutions not give excuses. By the way, I assume that all former staff of the Delta State Government have been paid their entitlements and only local government employees were demonstrating. If not, pay all of Delta State Government retirees have been paid, these government officials should stop this childish behaviour. Can these government officials work without pay?

    Children of the peasant farmers, those who went to school with bare feet, people who were born into crushing poverty, children of the poorest of the poor and orphans get into positions in Nigeria and instead of lifting people out of poverty by providing good governance and creating an enabling environment, they push more people into poverty. The annoying thing is that many of us from humble backgrounds completely forget where we are coming from once we get into positions where we can touch lives. Only foolish people forget their antecedents. That is partly why Nigeria is in this mess.

    On a final note, some of you pensioners demonstrating are the same people who were hiding people’s files, removing important documents from people’s files, collecting bribes before signing documents, extorting struggling contractors and collecting illegal levies from students while in service. I know you now know the bitter taste of man’s inhumanity to man. Wherever you are, be good to people so that you will be remembered for good deeds.

    ASUU Strike

    I wrote on the ASUU strike about a month ago. Then, we heard that the President had given matching orders to the Minister of Education that the issues should be resolved within two weeks so that university students can resume, it was a welcome news. The Minister of Labour was also told to recuse himself from negotiations concerning the ASUU strike. Shortly after, the presidential spokesman, Shehu Garba, came out to say that the president did not give such an ultimatum of two weeks to resolve the strike. So what did the president say? Things are getting more complicated. At the time of writing the Nigerian Labour Congress was on a two-day demonstration in support of ASUU. The situation can get worse than this.

    Meanwhile, week after week, top government officials’ assault us with photos of their children graduating in foreign universities while Nigerian universities are closed and parents wake up every day so see their children rotting away at home. The photos of the Speaker of the House of Representatives attending a leadership course in Harvard rankled many Nigerians because of the timing. Even if they need to pretend, government officials should show empathy to the governed. This misstep has diminished the great achievements he made in Surulere Federal Constituency, which he represents, especially in last four years. Typical of the Gbajabiamila I know, he has since apologised.

    Unfortunately in a few months’ time, some of these parents and students will collect N2,000 and sell their votes by voting for the same people who put them in this woe. They justify it that it is their share of the national cake. Na who swear for us?

    I have been thinking, if all top government officials had their children in public universities in Nigeria, would this strike have lingered for so long? Not likely; they would have found a way around it. Can we come up with laws to that effect? Forget it, it will not see the light of the day. In the UK, most of the best equipped hospitals are owned by the government. That is where the queen, prime minister, other top government functionaries and regular Britons go to. That is partly why they are in top shape. We are in urgent need of reforms.

  • [Video]Delta state pensioners protest against unpaid gratuities

    [Video]Delta state pensioners protest against unpaid gratuities

    Pensioners in Delta state have taken to the streets of Asaba to protest against governor Okowa over unpaid gratuities.

    The pensioners were mostly teachers who retired after 35 years of meritorious service to the state and were yet to be paid after seven years of service.

    The protesters called governor Ifeanyi Okowa a 419, accusing him of failing to honour his words, but rather choosing to pursue his Vice President of Nigeria ambition.

    Chief Mrs Ejieh C.E, Speaking on behalf of the retirees, said that “in spite of repeated promises made during meetings with a delegation of the State government, Gov Okowa bluntly refused to honour his words and left the retirees in the cold, choosing to pursue his Vice President of Nigeria ambition.”

    It was reported that the retirees are owed over 54 billion Naira as the state government just concluded payment of the 2014 class of retirees.

    Responding to Ejieh C.E, Chief of staff to the State Government Chief Festus Agas, pleaded with the retirees for time assuring that the payment would be made.

    In a video trending, the pensioners were seen carrying various placards and chanted solidarity songs culminating in a dirge, “Okowa pay our money, Okowa, shame, shame, shame o, Okowa. Okowa 419, Okowa, shame, shame shame o, Okowa”. See Video here:

     

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  • Commissioner denies Gov Bello used Kogi pensioners money to declare for president

    Commissioner denies Gov Bello used Kogi pensioners money to declare for president

    Kogi State Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Asiwaju Idris has said the State Governor, Yahaya Bello did not use pensioners money to declare for president.

    Idris made this known on Sunday while giving explanation on the delay in the payment of pensions for the state’s pensioners owed their March entitlement.

    Speaking with journalists in Lokoja, he said the widely circulated rumour that Gov. Bello had used the March Pension to conduct his presidential declaration event recently in Abuja was untrue.

    The commissioner said on the contrary, there was delay in the payment of March pension due to banking logistics.

    Idris said that the government was not owing pensioners and attributed the difficulty in the March payments to network failure.

    “The delay in payment of March pensions was due to logistics problems of transferring the money from Access Bank to UBA,” he stressed.

    He, however, urged pensioners in the state to exercise patience and avoid anxiety, saying the banks were making efforts to resolve the problems and effect their payments within the nearest possible time.

    He noted the state government under the leadership of Bello prioritised salaries of workers and pensioners, and would do everything to ensure the prompt payment of such.

  • Pensioners hail Buhari for approving use of technology-driven verification

    Pensioners hail Buhari for approving use of technology-driven verification

    Pensioners in the South-East have lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the use of technology-driven verification to stamp out all forms of stress in the pension system.

    The pensioners gave the commendation at the launch of “Am Alive” Application by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in the South-East in Enugu on Friday.

    They were of the view that President Buhari has continued to accord pensioners unprecedented respect and commitment to their welfare throughout his administration.

    Chief Temple Ubani, President-General of Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria, said that Buhari had changed the tide and system of pension administration by the singular act of approving technology to assist the system.

    “It is clear that our amiable President is continually thinking on how to better our lots and this will be further achieved by the ‘Am Alive’ application that can be operated in the comfort of our homes.

    “Operating the Am Alive application is so simple with a few steps you are through and given a confirmation,” Ubani said.

    Mr Edwin Ofoegbu, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Enugu State, said that Buhari’s administration through PTAD had changed the pension system administration to the extent that we have a clear departure from the recent past.

    Ofoegbu said that the Am Alive application is such a transformational initiative, adding that those days of traveling from one’s home to a far destination for verification are over.

    “Slumping of pensioners on queue is over as well as pensioners being stranded, turning into destitute and beggars in the city for their verification is over.

    “At least in my lifetime, I have seen the ‘Change’ President Buhari has promised through the new way and how senior citizens of this great country are treated fairly, with respect and love,” he said.

    Mr Emma Adu, National Secretary of NITEL/MTEL Pensioners, thanked the Federal Government through PTAD for coming up with an application “so easy and less cumbersome’’ that elderly people can relate to.

    “We salute President Buhari for the changes we have been seeing as pensioners, being spear-headed by PTAD.

    “The latest being the Am Alive application, which is an innovation worth millions as far as we are concerned as pensioners.

    “The thought, burden of traveling and even some uncertainties at the pension verification centres have been lifted from us with the Am Alive application,” Adu said.

    In an address, the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, said that the Am Alive application is a giant step meant to reduce the stress of pensioners going forward; while confirming whether an individual pensioner is alive or not.

    “With the Am Alive application, you can do your verification in the comfort of your home and it will hit the PTAD data-base simultaneously; thus, a stress-free, seamless, concise and friendly technological app all pensioners can relate to.

    “Today’s launch of the application is a test run to determine its workability; while the pensioners here today would act as those that will train their fellow colleagues.

    “In every community you must find or have people using simple android phones that you can use to enter our website and fill up the simple requirements and get your confirmation at the end,” Ejikeme said.

    The executive secretary also revealed that the Federal Government has set up a committee to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to see to the possibility of placing all senior citizens in a universal health insurance coverage scheme.

    “This arrangement when implemented will ensure optimal health of all our senior citizens and all pensioners will be included and be beneficiaries of the scheme,” she said.

    Earlier, in a Pension Stakeholders Forum (town hall meeting), the pensioners urged PTAD to look into the issue of some pensioners whose names were removed in the payroll but had been verified.

    They also called for creation of a forum where the chairman or secretary of pension unions can relate and interact with PTAD executives on issues bothering their individual members among others.

  • Man slumps as pensioners stage protests in Edo, Government reacts

    Man slumps as pensioners stage protests in Edo, Government reacts

    An elderly man on Monday collapsed in Edo State as retirees protested over their unpaid pensions and gratuities by the state government.

    During the exercise, the senior citizens disrupted the flow of traffic at Ring Road in Benin City, the state capital while airing their grievances.

    Most of them, dressed in black top and black trousers, carried placards bearing different inscriptions like ‘Governor Obaseki, please pay us our gratuity,’ ‘All we are saying pay us our gratuity,’ ‘Pensioners need gratuity to take care of our health and family’ among others.

    Suddenly, one of their colleagues slumped, a situation that forced the other protesters to suddenly rush him to a nearby hospital for treatment.

    According to them, the non-payment of their gratuity dates back to the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    While noting that they have had enough, the retirees insisted that they have been denied the harmonisation of their pensions in Edo State and that the harmonisation is backed by law.

    One of the pensioners, Godwin Egbon, told newsmen that whenever there is a salary increase, pensions should also be increased by the same percentage.

    “The Constitution says whenever there is salary increase, pensioners’ pension should also be increased by the same percentage but nothing is being said and nothing is being done,” he said.

    “Worst still, the ‘Comrade Governor’ Oshiomhole, a union man who ought to have corrected these ills, did not do it.”

    The pensioners also alleged that the state government connived with some union members to withdraw one percent from their already lean pension as dues for their unions.

    But the state government in a swift reaction said it is caught in the crossfire between two opposing pensioner union members, insisting that is the main reason for the protest.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Crusoe Osagie said the state government does not owe the pensioners a dime.

    “There is supposed to be a statutory one percent deduction which they have not ironed out among themselves yet, so that is what is causing this crisis,” he said.

    “The state government is caught in a cross-fire of disagreements within pension unions in the state. Whatever happened today with pensioners’ protest didn’t have anything to do with protests being owed because this state government does not owe a penny.”

  • Wike’s refusal to pay pensioners wicked, irresponsible – Dakuku

    Wike’s refusal to pay pensioners wicked, irresponsible – Dakuku

    Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside has called on Governor Nyesom Wike to hearken to the voices of retired senior citizens and pay them all their outstanding entitlements without further delay.

    Dr Peterdside’s admonition is coming on the heels of protests by pensioners in the state, who on Wednesday came out in their large numbers to voice their disenchantment against the refusal of Governor Wike to pay them for more than six years.

    He expressed shock and sadness over the incident, saying it typifies the attributes of a “wicked and irresponsible” emperor, who derives pleasure in seeing people cry and sometimes die in the course of demanding for their rights.

    The former House of Reps member said there is no justifiable reason by the governor not to have paid the senior citizens who devoted a chunk of their adulthood to serve the state in different capacities and have retired and thus should enjoy the fruits of their labour.

    According to him, the governor cannot complain of lack of funds, giving the fact that the state has received huge allocations in the last six years, in addition to Paris Club refund, borrowings from banks, and another N75bn refund from the Federal Government.

    “At no time in Rivers State history has senior citizens been treated with so much disdain and disrespect. Here are men and women, some who may have taught Wike in primary and secondary schools, begging the governor to pay them what is their right.

    “I was moved to tears when I saw the pictures of old men and women protesting at their age. This is embarrassing and shameful to a state that has enormous resources to pay them all their entitlements and allowances.

    “Governor Wike still has an opportunity to redeem his battered image by immediately commencing the processes to pay them. On no account should they come out protesting again, enough is enough of their unmerited sufferings every year,” he stated.

    Peterside, who is the immediate past director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) expressed sympathy for the pensioners, pointing out that in due time, their prayers would be answered.

  • Pensioners give FG 21-day ultimatum, threaten nationwide protest

    Pensioners give FG 21-day ultimatum, threaten nationwide protest

    Pensioners in Nigeria have threatened to embark on a nationwide protest giving the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum.

    The pensioners during a briefing at the nation’s capital, Abuja called on the Federal Government to implement the Consequential adjustment of pensions, arising from the implementation of the National minimum wage for Nigerian workers; hence they will occupy streets in protest.

    The National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Abel Afolayan said it is disheartening that after two years of implementing the national minimum wage, the Federal Government is yet to approve their demands as stipulated in the constitution.

    Quoting from the 1999 constitution with respect to sections 173(3) and 210 (3) as it affects the 5 -yearly review of pension, Afolayan said they should be a review or together with the salary reviews of workers

    The pensioners said further that two years after the adjustment of salaries and the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage as approved by the Government, they are still waiting for the approval of their own consequential adjustment of monthly pensions, in compliance with the above constitutional stipulation, even after several efforts by the national leadership of the union.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that retired soldiers earlier in January occupied the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, over the non-payment of their pension arrears.

    The ex-servicemen appealled to the Federal Government to approve the payment of minimum wage arrears accruing to them between 2019 till date.

    They also demanded a stop on all deductions on the pension of all retired medical officers as well as the inclusion of officers who fought during the civil war on the military pension scheme.

  • Acting Chief Judge orders 30 protesting magistrates to vacate office

    Acting Chief Judge orders 30 protesting magistrates to vacate office

    The Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State, Hon Justice Eyo Efiom Ita has ordered the 29 Protesting Magistrates in the state to vacate their sits in various courts in the state pending the resolution of the matter involving their two years salary.

    Ita, in a letter signed by the Chief Registrar, Edem N. Okokon, said they have been withdrawn from sitting in any courts till further notice.

    The magistrates have not been paid since their engagement in February 2019

    The acting chief judge whose tenures expires next week also asked the 30 magistrates to stay at home, alleging that many of them have been involved in corrupt practices in order to survive.

    The press statement claimed that the government regretted their employment, saying “there is no conscientious reason to have allowed you (magistrates) to work without pay for all the while..”

    Last week, the magistrates had protested in front of the governor’s office for three days over non-payment of two years salaries.