Ogun retirees demand payment of gratuity

The Ogun state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has lamented the non-payment of primary school teacher who retired seven years ago their gratuity.

Besides, the union who spoke through their chairman, Olujimi Odukoya in Abeokuta said payment of the monthly pension of the affected persons by the government had not been regular and often times, “it is not paid as at when due”.

They therefore appealed to Ogun government to pay the affected retirees their gratuity and also ensure regular payment of their monthly pension since those are the sources of their livelihood.

Odukoya listed other problems confronting pensioners in the State to include government’s refusal to review pension of retirees every five years as provided in the 1999 Constitution.

He said: “It is unfortunate that these sections of the Constitution are window dressing part of the Constitution. It has never been adhered to and this has led to a ridiculous pension payment in Nigeria. In many states of Nigeria, many pensioners are placed on ridiculous payment of N2, 000 or less per month.”

They also asked the government to implement the harmonisation of pension and 33.4 percent increase in pension as provided by the law.

He said even though in Ogun State the minimum pension of a retiree is N5, 000, “it is still ridiculous”.

Odukoya described the introduction of yet another guideline of payment against the pension law by the State government as a method to defraud Ogun State pensioners and deny them of about 40 percent of their gratuity entitlement.

“Nigeria Union of Pensioners vehemently rejected the new fraud system gratuity but Ogun State government went ahead in the illegal act”, Odukoya affirmed.