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Adetutu Sobowale
The Southwest Zone of Nigeria Union of Pensioners on Thursday urged the Federal and State Governments to restructure their systems and establish ministry of elders Affairs like they did for the ministry of youth and women Affairs.
The Public Relation Officer of the union, Olusegun Abatan gave this urge while briefing pressmen after the union’s meeting at Abeokuta,Ogun state.
The PRO who lamented ill treatment of pensioners advocated restructuring to establish ministry of elders’ affairs just like ministry of youth and women affairs.
Abatan explained that pensioners in the southwest were not well taken care of , adding that there is no health policy for the pensioners.
He said, “all the state governments in the south west should establish ministry of the elderly, just like the ministry of the youths and ministry for women affairs.
“The union is advocating the need for restructuring of system that is less expensive, that will release money for the development of the country and for taking care of elderly ones and pensioners.”
He stated further that southwest governors are owing pensioners in the neighborhood of trillions of naira.
He said, “all states government in the south west are owing pensioners in the neighborhood trillions of naira, we are not talking of billions but trillions of naira.
“Salaries of workers were increased in 2010 , many of the state governors throughout the federation did not increase pension except Lagos and Ondo state.
“Salaries also increased in 2019, over three years now, no southwest governors has implemented the adjustment for pensioners to benefit.
“They talk of pulsion of funds, the reason is that payments of pensions and gratitude doesn’t allow government and their agents to take money and embezzle.
“Our system must be restructured, particularly the presidential system where you have an array of public officers taking huge sum of money.
“Salaries of public officers are too much in this country, you know what our senators and members of representatives take home, you know the array of officers for each of these people.
“This is where a lot of money is going to, so we need a restructuring of system that is less expensive, that will release money, for the development of the country, for taking care of elderly and pensioners.
Abatan also the Public Relation Officer of the NUP, Oyo zone, stated that it important to vote for someone that would understood and take care of the plights of the pensioners especially in the southwest, adding that no governor owning pensioners shall be voted in the 2023 election.
He said “Presently, there is now the rumble a of elections throughout the length And breath of Nigeria and legislators that we didn’t see the last three years have started bringing out four yards of Ankara fabric and rice and beans to buy the mandate of Nigerian citizens.
“All pensioners must vote but what we are saying and want to emphasize is that pensioners should not vote those governors and government that are owing them, that is to say that we are going to have a trial of another person or government.”
