The Nigeria Union of Pensioners south-south zone has appealed for better welfare for pensioners in Rivers State.
The chairman of the organization, south-south zone Pullen Noruwa made the appeal to River State Government last week Thursday during the south/south zonal meeting of Nigeria Union of Pensioners which held in Port Harcourt.
Comrade Noruwa appealed to Rivers State Government to implement the six, fifteen and thirty-three percent pension increase of 2003,2007 and 2010 as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria to make pensioners in the state happier and more comfortable.
The south-south zonal chairman of pensioners urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Rivers State Pension Board to bring to the notice of the Governor, the plight of the pensioners in the state.
Comrade Noruwa noted that if pensioners are not happy in the state, it is the pension board.
Comrade Noruwa also disclosed that the union is considering presenting a bill to the National Assembly on harmonization of pension payment because those who retired so many years ago and the ones who retired in recent years who are of the same grade level are earning differently and there is a need to harmonize the pension payment because they all buy from the same market.
On his part, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Rivers State chapter comrade Collins. I. Nwankwo appealed to the state Government to effect the payment of gratuities, initial pension arrears and death benefits to the deserving pensioners as it is their constitutional rights
Comrade Nwankwo lamented the untold hardship living pensioners and survivors of deceased pensioners go through as a result of inability of the state Government to pay the gratuities and death benefits.
Our correspondent reports that state chairmen, secretary of the south-south states, representatives of NLC, Director General of Rivers State pension board, national general secretary of NUP, among others were all in attendance.
