– Says Government owes them N27b

The chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Adamawa state chapter, comrade Samson L. Almuru said about 200 of its members had died in 2019 without been paid their pensions by the state government.

Almuru, while speaking during the commemoration of the qnnual pension year, 2020 in Yola, said most of them where not able to get proper medical attention while some died of hunger because of the inability of the state government to pay them their pension.

Pensioners in Adamawa State have cried out over the non-payment of over N27 billion owed them by both the state and local government pensioners since the coming of the present administration in the state.

“Between 2019 to date over 200 pensioners died waiting to receive their pension benefits.

‘’Since the inception of this administration no pensioner can claim to have received his full gratuity, this should not be the case.

“The union is aware that some pensioners are given N50.000- N200, 000 as part of their gratuity and tagged assistance,” the chairman said.

The pensioners also decried that since the coming of the Fintiri-led administration no pensioner have received his full gratuity, while confirming that the state and local governments are owing pensioners N27b

‘’ The Gov’t is owing Pensioners over N27 billion i.e. both State & L.G. Pensioners,’’ said he.

Comrade Almuru said, “They waited to receive their gratuitous payments from the State Government after their retirement from the services of the Government but the Governor failed them.

”He said: “We decided to celebrate this year’s Annual Pension Year at this time as a mark to pray to God and thank Him that we are not dead but still alive but many of our colleagues are dead and gone. The essence of the World Pensioners Day is rather painful those who contributed to the development of the state are neglected because they are retired.”

He said, “We as pensioners have done everything possible to even meet with His Excellency Governor Fintiri or to make the government pay us our pensions but to no avail therefore we have resolved to offer special prayer so that they may listen to us.’’