No gratuities for 9 years, life difficult for us – Female pensioners narrate ordeal

Female pensioners in Cross River State have lamented the non-payment of their gratuities since retirement from civil service over nine years ago as well as irregular payment of monthly pensions.

The women claimed that surviving has become a daily task because sometimes they go months without pensions.

They recalled their plights when the women’s wing of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, (NUP) took their plight before the Lord at the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption, Calabar.

Speaking to reporters, Leader of the affected women, Mrs Regina George said, “Workers who retired from the state service have not received gratuities for over nine years, even with this, our pensions are very much delayed sometimes for two to three months.

“Our check-off dues should be remitted to our union, so, they can use them to arrange social and welfare supports to our members in more dire situations.

According to George, gratuities were last paid in the state in 2014.

George called for payments of pensions even before regular workers receive their salaries, and regularly, too.

She lamented that many of those affected are people in their 70s who have peculiar and age-related issues that affect them.

“The state government should also like, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), take care of the pensioners and make them happy.

She used the opportunity to call on all female retirees in the state to join the union, to enable them get relevant information from NUP at the national level and also partake in the union’s activities.

“Pensioners are verified every year, however, some of us do not attend these verifications due to lack of information, we can surmount this challenge by joining the group of pensioners.