The Bayelsa State Government and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have expressed divergent views on the death of two pensioners awaiting verification for their nine months pension liability.

Three pensioners collapsed on Monday, while on the queue for the exercise. Two of the collapsed pensioners reportedly died in the process. While the government is denying the reported death, the pensioners appeared on a private radio station monitored in Yenagoa and insisted that two of its members died in the exercise.

Dr. Cynthia Bosbini, Director, Bayelsa Ambulance Medical Service, who spoke on Thursday in Yenagoa denied the reported deaths. Bosini said the exercise, which commenced on Monday with the Yanagoa Local Government Area had only recorded collapses of three pensioners.

She said: “Yes, it is on news, especially on social media that about two retirees have died, while on queue for the verification exercises. However, that was not true; we have been here since the exercise started, but I must tell you that nobody died.

“The medical team is prepared; we have six nurses, Doctors and other medical personnel here.

“On Monday, about three persons slumped, on Tuesday, we had other cases of collapse but most serious of them was Mbibiri Dickson from Egbedi Community.

“The man was treated in the ambulance, with the able hands of the medical team on ground.

“He recovered very well, though by the Doctors diagnosis, he has hypoglycemia; that is why he slumped.

“The pension board has provided what we need to work as an ambulance team.

“We are fully on ground to take good care of their health challenges; we have been testing their blood pressure and sugar level.

“My advice to them is always; take their meal before going out and those on medication should always take their drugs.”

Mrs Jane Aleke, Chairperson, Bayelsa Pension Board also said that the medical team for the exercise were working hard and noted that there were no death recoded so far.

Mr Bodi Amara, Chairman, Bayelsa Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), maintaining that two of their members have died in the exercise but said he could not disclose their names.

Her words: “Yes, many of our members have collapsed since Monday, two among them have died; right now and the State Government has been making frantic efforts to conceal this development and it is unfortunate.

“It is unfortunate that people who have served the state are being subjected to this type of traumatic experience over nine months’ pension arrears which they have not even started paying.

“It will be recalled that we were beaten up by youths loyal to the government when we staged a peaceful protest at the Government House gate.

“Our expectations are that after verification, each person will be paid, but they are not doing that. It took them three days for just one local government and we have eight local governments. They are merely buying time,” he said.

•Photo shows Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson.

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