By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Nigeria Association of Pensioners, Anambra State Council, has urged the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to review and harmonize pension rates in the state.

This followed a revelation that a pensioner whose name was given as Mrs Fanny Ngozi Uchefuna, a retired Senior Matron earns a meager sum of N350.00 (Three hundred and fifty naira) as monthly pension.

The union has written to Governor Soludo asking that he not only and harmonise pensioners' monthly take home pay, but to intervene in the pathetic situation of Mrs. Uchefuna who retired since October 21, 1994 from the State Education Commission, with identity card number AN 866 and Njikoka Local Government as her pay point.

The letter cited a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, requesting the governor to adopt the new rates.

Similarly, Retired Directors of the Anambra State Public Service have also called for a pension review and harmonization, noting that retirees have not seen an increase since in their monthly pay since 2003.

They pointed out that pensions should be harmonized every five years or whenever salaries are reviewed for serving officers, as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution.

They however thanked Governor Soludo for the N10,000 awarded to retirees pending harmonization but emphasized the need for expedited action.

The retired Directors? communiqu?, signed by the Chairman, Hon. Fidelis Ezeike, and Secretary, Sir Azuka Okeke, reads: ?We heartily thank Prof. Charles Soludo (CON), Governor of Anambra State, for awarding N10,000 to all state government retirees pending pension harmonization in line with the 2024 national minimum wage law.

"We sadly note that a retiree in Anambra State earns only N330 monthly, less than N500. Pensions haven?t been reviewed since 2003, contrary to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates harmonization every five years or with salary reviews.

?We also appreciate the governor?s directive to harmonize pensions; considering the current harsh economic situation; we urge expedited action.

?As pillars of MDAs, we retired directors are disposed to support the government through consultancy services and other ways to transfer knowledge.?