By Amos Aar
A GROUP of retirees known as the Concerned Pensioners Association, Benue State, on Wednesday announced that they have withdrawn their court cases filed against the state government over pension matters.
Chairman of the association, Mr Alexander Akosu, made this known on Wednesday at Government House, Makurdi, when he led the Concerned Pensioners on “the mother of all solidarity rallies in support of the good administration” of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Speaking before the governor after having marched from High Level Roundabout, Makurdi to the Government House, Akosu said: “I am glad to state that your appeal to the Concerned Pensioners to withdraw all their cases pending in the court against government has received wild acclamation from the individual pensioners having such cases in the court, saying that the government of Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth lormem Alia is doing everything for pensioners, therefore, there is no need to continue with such cases in the court.
“On the other hand, the case filed by the Concerned Pensioners Association against the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Benue State Chapter and the Government of Benue State over the issue of the deduction of check off dues accruing to the Concerned Pensioners’ Association and forwarding same to the NUP by the Government, without approval and authority from the prospective pensioners, is done in contravention of the pensioners’ fundamental human rights, that one has also been withdrawn to pave the way for government’s mediation and subsequent settlement. We were unable to settle ourselves that was why we disengaged from the NUP.”
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Akosu further explained that their decision to withdraw the court cases and to throw their weight behind the governor was due to a number of reasons, which he said include the regularisation of the payment of pensions, placement of pensioners on the payroll immediately after retirement, clearing of gratuities of those who have retired under his (Alia) administration, appointment of their members into his cabinet and his laudable achievements in the area of infrastructure within few months in office.
He also noted that they named their association as ‘Concerned pensioners’ because the state leadership of the NUP was not concerned about the plight of its members under former Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration, but now wants to destabilise Alia’s administration with “ill-motivated protests” and demands.
“Your Excellency, Sir, it is no doubt and glaring that the Concerned Pensioners Association contributed significantly to your enthronement as the Governor of Benue State.
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“On assumption of office as the governor, we proudly introduced ourselves to you as an association and highlighted our problems and grievances occasioned by the previous administration and urged you to redress these problems and grievances since government is a continuity.
“Your Excellency, Sir, in reciprocating the gesture we extended to you and within two months in office, you, in turn, immediately commenced the implementation of the solution to our problems and grievances tabled before you, amidst the meagre resources available at your disposal.
“You regularised the payment of our monthly pension which was paid 3 times in one year by the previous administration.
“You placed all the pensioners on the payroll immediately after retirement. During the past administration, pensioners would have to wait for more than 2 years before being placed on the pay roll.
“You cleared the gratuity of those that retired during your administration to pave the way for you to face only the arrears incurred by the previous administration, in order not to have arrears two sided.
“You also removed pensioners from the pit of limbo to the frontline charge, thereby giving them hope.
“You have further cancelled the nick name given to pensioners as dead people by the previous government. Now, under your administration, pensioners are bouncing with full life in them.
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“Your Excellency, Sir, you have done well, carry go.
“On the general note, apart from pensioners, you have equally done well.
“You refurbished the assembly complex which is a big project that is wearing a new look and conducive for habitation.
“The initiation of the Registration of WAEC and NECO Examinations for Benue State indigenes schooling in Government Secondary Schools by the Benue State Government under your watch is a laudable development applauded by all and sundry.
“We are very happy to see quality and unique construction work, quite differently from those of the previous administration, on so many networks of roads going on in Makurdi metropolis. These are physical and visual testimony of the creation of your administration.
“The launching of 100 buses for the Benue Links Transport Service is unprecedented and the best thing that has happened to the people of Benue State.
“Equally worthy of note is the appointments that you have made in honour of two of us in the persons of Comrade Emmanuel Gwaza Ujah Matyu as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Mr. Mkena as the Board Member, Local Government Service Commission.
“We encourage you to appoint more pensioners in high positions of authority in that, they are veterans in their various fields of human endeavour and would bring their worth of experience to bear on the job that would be assigned to them without mistake.
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“We cannot exhaust all the achievements which you have created for yourself within the short time of less than six months of your enthronement as the Governor of Benue State,” Akosu intimated.
Akosu, however, asked the governor to harmonise pension rates as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, expressing concern that some pensioners were still receiving three hundred and fifty naira (N350) only as their monthly pension.
He also requested the state government to clear pension and gratuity arrears which according to him have accumulated up to N100 billion as well as stop the deduction of check off dues from Concerned Pensioners.
“Much still needs to be done, especially in the implementation of the Report on Harmonisation of Pension Rates as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that has been concluded which is one of our stinking grievances.
“Some pensioners are still receiving Three Hundred and Fifty Naira (N350.00) only as their monthly pension which cannot buy anything. Imagine, some Permanent Secretaries, the highest position in the Civil Service, are still receiving Twenty-six Thousand Naira (26,000.00) only as their monthly pension, the issue is not only painful but also heart-breaking.
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“We are also encouraging you to source for alternative funds for the payment of our monthly pension and gratuity arrears which have risen above 100 billion naira. The internally generated revenue and the federal government allocation to states only cannot clear our arrears and at the same time take care of the needs of the state.
“Last but not the least; government should stop the deduction of check off dues from Concerned Pensioners Association to the Nigeria Union of Pensioners. The Union that declared a total protest, on a national scale against this administration in order to embarrass and humiliate the administration, while it was just three months old in office or at its infancy, to God be the glory, I halted that protest by an announcement on the Brothers FM Radio to all reasonable pensioners not to take part in that protest because it was ill-motivated. All the pensioners took side with me and the protest did not hold and the administration was not embarrassed.
“Finally, the Christmas that we have not been enjoying over the years, but under your administration, we are hopeful that you are going to put smiles on our faces. We pray that God should strengthen, encourage, give you wisdom, favour and open doors for greater things to come to pensioners in Jesus name”, Akosu prayed.
Addressing the concerned pensioners, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam said government was making efforts to settle all pension arrears and the arrangement has passed “embryo stage” to advanced level.
Biam who represented the governor thanked the concerned pensioners for withdrawing all the pension matters in court to embrace peace for development to be achieved.
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“Even before the solidarity match, the governor was doing what he is doing. The government is considering a model to offsetting all arrears as we progress. This plan by the government has passed an embryo stage; we are at advanced stage now,” Biam said promising that Christmas package will be on the doorsteps of pensioners and it will be given to them apart from their pensions that will be paid them in the next two days.
“I’m also privileged to know that in the next two days, you will be hearing pim, pim, pim. But that’s not the Christmas package o, that one is the usual thing that happens. The Christmas package is coming and it is coming differently from the normal pim, pim, pim,” Biam stated.
