Enugu senior citizens blame Chime over non-payment of pensions, gratuities
The
Enugu State Association of Pensioners has attributed the non-payment of pensions and gratuities to the immediate past administration, saying that such behaviour does not speak well for an instituted authority or government.
Enugu State Association of Pensioners has attributed the non-payment of pensions and gratuities to the immediate past administration, saying that such behaviour does not speak well for an instituted authority or government.Spokesman of the group, Rev Peter Agoziem told newsmen that the insincerity of the former Governor Sullivan Chime has contributed immensely to the suffering and death of some members of senior citizens in the state.
Agoziem regretted that since 2009, the senior citizens in Enugu State have not received their pension and gratuities and that has imposed economic hardship on the families of the retired state and federal civil servants in Enugu.
He stated this while explaining the condition of pensioners at the old Eastern Nigeria State House of Assembly in Enugu, according to him, the old people who served the state and federal government should not be allowed to die without the right given to them, he stated.
The spokesman of the group also noted that federal government has directed that harmonisation or the review of salary structure must be done after every five years but expressed disappointment that such directives have not been followed by the state government.
In his words: “Ugwuanyi should not be blamed because the previous government owed us, but government is a continuum so let them pay us because we cannot pay our children’s school fees anymore,” he noted.
Chief Nwobodo Felix Ani one of the senior citizens also confirmed that they have not received their pensions and gratuities, saying July 2015 pension has not been paid.