Clement Ohida, Kogi state chairman of Nigeria pensioners, has said that gratuity not being paid as expected has been the area where pensioners are not comfortable with the state government.
Ohida disclosed this in Lokoja, after their meeting, adding that putting 35 years in service has its ups and downs.
“And it looks like just yesterday, when we started as fresh graduates. When we started work with the state government. We have been very hopeful that after 35 years, we deserve a good rest.
It was hopeful that we start our rest by taking our gratuity and resting with it.
“But it has not been so for almost every pensioner. But one good thing about the Kogi State government is that our monthly pension is coming as at when due. But gratuity is not being paid as expected. That’s the area where we are not comfortable with the government.
“Pension, as you know, is a 10 percent of what you earn as a worker. When you retire, that’s what you will be receiving. Pensioners who retired years back when the salary was low are still receiving 10 percent of what they were earning 10 years back. And you know naira has devalued, so you know it can’t offset bills in Kogi State. I don’t expect that 10 years back pension can still take care of bills in the house now,” he said.
Speaking on how pensioners are surviving, he said: “Pensioners who are still able have to go the extra mile to fetch for themselves. You know, even children are not fully engaged. Children out of school are not engaged to support their parents.”
He urged pensioners who are still able to look inwards and whatever you think to help yourself do it, but it’s not easy now, coupled with old age.
“We can only plead to say, we can’t advise. Government. We have been pleading to state and federal governments to look into the state of pensioners, many of them are bedridden and can’t take care of themselves.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
