By Yetunde Oke
Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP , has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to approve a new National Minimum Pension of 60,000 naira instead of 32,000 naira for Nigeria Pensioners.
The NUP President, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, made the call on the occasion of Pensioners’ Day Celebration, held at NUP National Headquarters, Abuja.
According to Comrade Abumisi, the increment is necessary in appreciation of retirees’ long, active and selfless services to their father land.
Comrade Abumisi noted that the hyper inflation which had for so long bedevilled Nigeria has eroded the current value of currency and has rubbished their monthly pensions.
The NUP President also appealed to President Tinubu to urgently release the balance of 37 billion naira out of the 58 billion naira approved for the implementation and payment of the arrears of the 32,000 pension naira increase.
Inclusion of Pensioners from the seven defunct parastatals who were advertently excluded from benefiting the 32,000 naira pension increase, payment of backlog of pay-off pension entitlements to the defunct Nigeria Airways Pensioners approximately amounting to 36 billion naira and release of three months 25,000 naira palliative approved for Pensioners to cushion the adverse effects of fuel subsidy removal.
While appreciating the administration of President Tinubu for approving and releasing billions of naira for the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities to members, he also lauded Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Ayedatiwa of Ondo State, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Alex Otti of Abia State , Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Governor Hope Uzordima of Imo State, Charles Soludo of Anambra State, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Governor Mohammed Yahaya of Gombe State and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State for prioritizing prompt payment of monthly and arrears of pensions including gratuities in their respective states.
