The constant involvement of these individuals and setting up
of several committees tend to portray an element of government gimmicks of
circumventing the payment of N18,000 harmonised pension.
Retirees in Delta State under the umbrella of Delta State
Association of Contributory Retirees, have said they are dying of hunger
following the inability of the state government to pay their pension benefits
due them.
Addressing a press conference in Asaba, the state capital,
Chairman of the association, Isaiah Agbaka, represented by his vice, Anthony
Osanekwu, appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to save their souls from penury
and untimely death by paying their pension benefits based.
He said, “We are also crying to the world to assist us to
plead with the state government to have a human face and hear our demand of
paying pension benefits. So many of our members have died as a result of
non-payment that has led to starvation among others.
“All pension reform acts both federal and Delta State
stipulates expressly that a worker upon retirement should not earn less than 50
per cent of his last salary before retirement. The current payment based on
N7,500 has placed us at a disadvantaged position.
“We are vehemently opposed to and reject the inclusion of
Governor Okowa's aides, Syvester Monye and Kingsley Emu, in the present
committee.
“The constant involvement of these individuals and setting
up of several committees tend to portray an element of government gimmicks of
circumventing the payment of N18,000 harmonised pension.
“The state government should invite PENCOM to the committee
as well as the two actuarial valuers to put an end to this issue of harmonised
pension.”
The retirees urged Governor Okowa to involve NLC, JNC, TUC
and ACR in the present committee since they were part of the committee that
submitted the acceptable working report of the moment.
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