Pensioners in Kwara State, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), have appreciated Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the release of funds for payment of gratuities to the 2019 batch of state government retirees and the 2014 and 2015 batches of local government pensioners.
In a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the union, Alhaji Saidu Oladimeji, and the secretary, Chief Abraham Jona Gana JP, the group appreciated the governor’s kind gesture, describing him as a listening and God-fearing person for showing compassion for pensioners’ welfare.
The pensioners also said that the governor’s magnanimity will relieve the beneficiaries, thus solving part of their financial problems.
However, the pensioners appealed to the governor to release more funds to sustain continuity of payment to the remaining batches to date, requesting that similar treatment should be accorded state pensioners from 2020 to date and local government pensioners from 2015 to date.
They also requested the implementation of harmonisation of pension and pension increases for pensioners, “for them to cope with contemporary rising cost of living, especially, in meeting up with old age and medication equipment”.
The union also appealed for the approval of a benevolent peculiar allowance to pensioners as done for serving workers in the state, while calling the attention of the state government to the issue of relocation of the state NUP secretariat that was demolished by the state government.
“While the NUP remains grateful to Governor Abdul Rasaq for his attention, it pledges its resolution to supporting his administration even as it appeals for the donation of a functional motor vehicle to the union for official purposes and consider pensioners for free health care insurance”.
The union then appealed to all its members to be patient with the state government while the union will continue to pursue all the remaining issues.