Date: 2021-06-05

Pensioners in Kwara State have appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to take away payment of pension and gratuities from consultants without further delay.

In a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Alhaji Saidu Oladimeji and the secretary, Comrade Abraham Jona Gana JP, the union called for the termination of the contract term of consultant and return of erstwhile duties of accounting officials back to the Local Government Pension Board with adequate technological working tools.

The union, which commended the governor for regular payment of monthly pension and full payment to both local government, primary school teachers and state pensioners in the state, urged the governor to maintain the tempo so as to make life bearable and meaningful for the beneficiaries.

The union, however, urged the governor to as a matter of urgency settle the backlog arrears owing to the state, local government and primary school teachers' retirees in the state, implement the 20 per cent harmonization, increase the monthly allocation to the state and Local Government Pension Boards from N100 million to N300 million for the board to settle backlog arrears of gratuities as well as other entitlements as contained in the memorandum being forwarded to the governor by the union in May 2019.

The NUP expressed dismay that the non-implementation of the aforementioned entitlements has adversely affected the beneficiaries as many of them have died an untimely death, many of them are unable to meet their hospital and house rent bills, while many are unable to pay their children school fees and settle other families, social and public commitments.

The union then assured Governor Abdulrazaq of the members' continued loyalty, support and maximum cooperation at all times while it also prayed God to grant the governor long life, sound health, wisdom and knowledge so as to take the State of Harmony to greater heights.