200 pensioners’ve died of starvation –NUP

From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

The Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) said over 200 of its members including permanent secretaries,  have died of starvation since 2011 as a result of the non-payment of their pensions and gratuities.
This was just as the union has slammed the state governor for paying them only 70 per cent of one month pension out of 16 to 70 months owed different categories of pensioners in the state.
Imo State Chairman ofNUP, Chief Gideon Ezeji, who disclosed this yesterday  said  over 30 per cent of pensioners were omitted during the one month pension payment last month.
He further revealed  that as at October 2016, the state government was owing civil pensioners 20 months pension; retired permanent secretaries 20 months pension arrears; retired primary school teachers 30 months; retired local government pensioners 21 months pension arrears. Imo Broadcasting Corporation pensioners 40 months pension arrears and Alvan Ikoku College of Education pensioners before the Federal Government take over, are owed 75 months pension arrears.
“We have lost about 200 of our members since 2011 because of the non-payment of their pensions and gratuities and even when government decided to pay, we were only paid 70 per cent of one month out of 16 to 70 months owed various categories of pensioners in the state,” he lamented
Similarly, the Chairman, Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries of Imo State, Chief  Hyncinth  Onyekwere who said 12 members of the association had died of hypertension in the last five years,  condemned the practice wherein contractors and hirelings who lack the expertise and capacity are engaged to handle pensions as against the norm. It is meant to be handled by the office of the Head of Service of the state.
He added that traditional rulers, most of whom are ill equipped to do so, have now become pivotal persons in the administration of pension in the state, regretting that the sub-treasuries who possess the expertise have been relegated to the background.