By Peter Usman
Abuja (Nigeria) In view of the present economic hardship in the country, the Association of Contributory Pensioners has called for a review of pensions of its members like any other category of pensioner.
President of the association, Uche Chukwu Ekpo, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital, said it was heart burgling as pension of their members has not been reviewed since retirement.
Ekpo lamented that the situation of contributory pensioners in the country was pathetic considering the fact that nobody comes to their rescue.
He stated that constant and periodic review of their pension will enable them to overcome some economic challenges they have been facing.
Ekpo explained that the association was borne out of necessity looking at the plights of pensioners in this category, hence the need for government to come to their rescue .
“Association of Contributory Pensioners was borne out of necessity on the 27th of November, 2012 when a group of concerned pensioners in Abuja came together to deliberate on issues bordering payment of their pension, benefits due for them from time to time and irregularities discovered in the process of payment”
“The association has been registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), this making it a legal entity with over 3000 members across the country and we are expecting more members”
Ekpo also called on the media to come to their aid by exposing injustice going on in the system saying that media will help draw the attention of the government to implement the new policy they have been agitating for.
“When I retired some years ago, I was able to buy a bag of rice, but now, I couldn’t because the prices of rice and other commodities have gone up and yet my pension has not been reviewed. We want review of pension periodically as well as when workers salary is being amended upward”
The association also demanded that government should include its members in the National Health Insurance Services, NHIS, adding that government ought to create a way for the pensioners to borrow money to meet urgent needs.
Meanwhile a Symposium to discuss issues affecting the members of the association holds on Monday, 23rdof October, 2017 in Abuja.
