By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has expressed gratitude to Governor Umar Bago for h...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has expressed gratitude to Governor Umar Bago for his administration’s efforts in addressing the backlog of gratuities owed to retirees in the state.
In a statement issued by Comrade Abdullahi Baba Sani, Secretary of the Niger State NUP, the union appealed for the resumption of gratuity payments to local government pensioners. While state pensioners are approaching the eighth batch of payments, local government retirees have only received payments from the first and second batches.
The NUP highlighted the difficulties faced by pensioners in the state, which prompted Governor Bago to instruct the Director General of the Pension Board to begin gratuity payments. While the union appreciated the governor's swift action, they urged him to extend the same consideration to local government pensioners who are still awaiting further payments.
The union also raised concerns about the meagre monthly payments that many pensioners receive, with some retirees collecting as little as N3,000, N4,000, and N5,000, which is insufficient to meet basic needs.
Citing Sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the NUP appealed to Governor Bago to implement the recently approved N70,000 national minimum wage for pensioners, ensuring they benefit from the increase.
Additionally, the union requested a piece of land to build a Pensioners’ Clinic, which would provide subsidized healthcare services for minor medical issues. They also appealed for an 18-seater bus to facilitate the movement of pensioners attending national or inter-state events.
While Governor Bago’s administration has shown commitment to pensioners’ welfare, the NUP is hopeful that their requests for improved support will be met soon.
The recent approval of the N70,000 national minimum wage by the federal government has sparked discussions on its implementation across various states. While some states, like Lagos, have already begun paying the increased wage, others are still struggling to meet the current minimum wage obligations.
The NUP emphasized the financial hardships faced by pensioners, particularly in light of rising transportation, feeding, healthcare, and housing costs. They urged Governor Bago to prioritize the welfare of Niger State’s pensioners by implementing the new minimum wage and providing the necessary support.
The union’s appeal underscores the urgent need for improved benefits and support for the senior citizens of Niger State.
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