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Southwest pensioners seek implementation of consequential adjustment on new wage

By Shakirah Adunola
22 July 2021   |   3:00 am
Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Southwest zone have called on governors to implement the recently approved consequential adjustment arising from the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act

Pension. Photo/PIXABAY

Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Southwest zone have called on governors to implement the recently approved consequential adjustment arising from the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act 2019 to pensioners.  
 
The union, which noted that the adjustment was constitutional, said it was approved by the Federal Government under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. 

   
Speaking during the zonal council meeting, held in Lagos State, the NUP South-West Public Relations Officer, Olusegun Abatan, lamented irregularities in the payment of gratuities and pensions.
 
“We want state governments in the Southwest to please address the entitlement of pensioners. They own several months of unpaid pensions and gratuity and this cut across all states in the southwest. This is very embarrassing and scandalous, though some states are still attending to them within the means of their financial strength.”
   
He urged southwest governors to implement the consequential adjustment and an increase in pension should reflect the new national minimum wage.
   
“Our retirees are suffering, some go home with as little as N1000 per month. How will they survive? These are men and women that have contributed their quota to the development of their various states.”
 
He lamented over the unbearable health challenges of senior citizens in the country, recommending a free health scheme for pensioners.
 
“The suffering is becoming unbearable, we want state governors in the southwest to fashion out health programmes for pensioners. Most especially those that are above 60 years should benefit from the scheme. At age 60, you are drug compliant. We use all our money to buy drugs. We want the governors to assist us; they can still tap from our wealth of experience to help develop the state.”
   
He commended Lagos State Governor,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for being good to retirees and appealed to him to build a befitting secretariat for Lagos pensioners.
 
“We appeal to his excellency to assist Lagos Branch of Nigeria Union of Pensioners with a secretariat. It is quite embarrassing that out of all the six states in the southwest, it is only Lagos State that does not have a befitting accommodation. Lagos State does not have a secretariat and that is why we are holding this meeting at a rented hotel,” he said.

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