Pensioners in Benue State under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have issued the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia an 8-Day ultimatum to pay their three months arrears and also commence the release of N900 million monthly for the payment of arrears or risk a protest.

The Pensioners who took the decision at the end of an emergency meeting held at the Union’s secretariat in Makurdi on Tuesday insisted that government pays all Local Government Pensioners their three months’ pension arrears without delay.

The NUP further stressed that failure of the state government to pay the arrears on Wednesday, 16th August 2023, the Union will have no choice but to mobilise pensioners in the state to protest on Wednesday next week.

In a notification letter signed by the State Chairman, Michael Vembe and Saater Bur, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Union demanded that government should release Nine Hundred Million Naira (N900 million) every month for the payment of Local Government Pensioners in the state.

The NUP equally said it wants the government to start the payment of their pension arrears and gratuities, place all retirees that have fully processed their papers on pension payroll this month and pay pension within a month of a worker’s retirement from service.

The Union reminded the State Government of its earlier promise to pay pension arrears and gratuities, noting that pensioners were most vulnerable due to age and health challenges and therefore deserve to get priority attention when the fuel subsidy removal palliatives start.

However, the Union appreciated the government for paying three months’ pensions to all pensioners at the State level just as it lamented that only one month has been paid to one-third of Local Government Pensioners. (Daily Independent)