By Longtong Ibrahim
Association of Nigerian pensioners, Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, has given Nigerian government three weeks ultimatum to resolve their problems or faced embarrassment.
Some of the problems include the non-payment of 33 percent pension increase arrears since 1st July, 2009 to December, 2013; nonpayment of full gratuity to some retired staffs and non harmonization of pension among others, says the chairman of the Association, Mr. Zacheus Adedokun.
Briefing newsmen on Monday in Kaduna, Adedokun said pensioners would no longer stomach the inhuman treatment meted out to them by the bureaucrat and agencies that serve as media of pension disbursement, hence, they should stop converting pensioner’s money for private use or business, but should be disburse to beneficiaries.
He added that, the various problems have exposed their members and their families to untold hardship and even dead.
According to him, “our gratuity due to our retirees since 2007 has remained unpaid till date, some received part payment. Many of them because of nonpayment of their gratuity could not vacate official residence and were later being humiliated with letters of ejection from their official quarters by their employers.
“The Non-payment of severed/disengaged pensionable staff under the Federal Civil Service Reform Program from January 2008 to December 2010. The disengaged staff whose enrollment should have been on CONTISS and not HATISS as obtained in other polytechnics; but severed staff in Kaduna Polytechnic are been paid their pension on HATTISS instead of CONTISS, whereas they exited from the service in 2008 when CONTISS had already been introduced and awarded.
“The Pre-1992 Pensioners are being owed their 33 percent increase and arrears with effect from 1st July 2009 to July, 2015.
“Pension of officers who retired between 1st January 1991 and 30th September 1994 in Kaduna polytechnic has not had their pension harmonized…
The chairman also complained of the non-payment of death benefits to the next of kins and the balance of 33 percent pension increase arrears from 1st July, 2009 to the time of their death, noting that some of the next of kins died while waiting to collect their spouse’s death benefit which according to them has not been paid till this moment.
“A clear observation reveals that Nigerian pensioners in general and polytechnic in particular are treated with ignominy and levity by the bureaucrats and agencies which serve as media pension disbursement.
“Government in general has no regard for the elder statesmen and women who use their youthful strength to serve her. In other countries, government do pay pensioners even before workers salaries are paid which symbolizes total respect to the senior citizens of such country, but is not the case in Nigeria,” the body noted.
The group added that they will appreciate any Government that takes care of pensioners with responsiveness, sensitivity and responsibility.