By Yetunde Oke
The Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Oyo State Council, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, has described the plights of pensioners across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as sad.
Comrade Abatan said this in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan, the state capital.
According to Comrade Abatan, state governors do not respect the section 173 sub section 3 and section 201 sub section 3 of the 1999 constitution as amended, which states that whenever salaries are increased pension should also be increased.
“Many of our pensioners have turned to beggers at churches and mosques, because how do you survive with five hundred naira? How do you survive if your pension was reviewed last in 2007?”
“In fact, our own is even better (350-500 naira) compared to the pensioners in the east who earn 105 naira as pension.”
Comrade Abatan, who is also the Public Relations Officer, NUP Southwest Zone, added that due to the negligence of the state government concerning the welfare of pensioners, they now live in poverty which is not deserving of those who have served the nation meritoriously before their retirement.
The NUP Scribe further reemphasised that the union will continue to prioritise the welfare of pensioners within the state and southwest.
