Delayed N758bn arrears: FCT pensioners lament hunger, deaths

Wike

Pensioners in the Federal Capital Territory have expressed frustration over the delay in the payment of pension arrears.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu had given approval for the N758bn Treasury Bond by the Federal Executive Council in February for payment of the arrears.

The National Assembly approved the implementation of the N758bn Treasury bond on July 22.

The bond was to clear all government liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The pensioners, who lamented over their sufferings, also urged the immediate implementation of the N758bn treasury bond to increase their monthly pension in line with the present economic reality.

In an interview with NAN, Hajiya Amina Lawal said that even some workers could not afford three meals.

“We were happy after the announcement by the President that we are going to be paid, but we did not know we would have to wait this long for processing.

“Our hopes were raised, and some have died while waiting for the money to be paid.

“We are begging for the immediate implementation; we are too old to be on the streets,” she said.

Mr George Ose said they were going through a lot, adding that some pensioners had lost their lives in the struggle.

“My family and I are hungry. I can’t pay my children’s school fees. My landlord is on my neck, and to top it all, I can’t access the National Health Insurance Scheme anymore.

“If you look into my eyes, you will know that I need urgent medical attention. Pensioners in this country are suffering.

”After working hard, if I knew I would suffer like this, I would not have given them the services I did,” he said.