Aged and suffering Lagos pensioners demand payment, say their members dying of hunger
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) paid 644 pensioners N2.017 billion arrears of benefits about two weeks ago, after they waited more than 10 years, but another group is demanding its payment having queued up for more than 13 years.
A seven-point demand, which includes the payment of full pension arrears, have been made on Governor Babajide-Sawo-Olu by the state Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) under the new Contribution Pension Scheme (NUP/CPS).
State NUP/CPS Chairman Omisande Michael lamented he and his members are passing through very difficult times and urged Sanwo-Olu to intervene to stop the untimely death of geriatric pensioners who worked hard to contribute to the development of the state before they retired.
“Several members of NUP/CPS have died untimely due to a lack of money to take care of their basic needs, among others, including avoidable health challenges,” Michael said.
“We are praying and begging our Governor for the immediate payment of the outstanding backlogs from 2020 to date, declaration of state of emergency on pensions matter in the state; and due to the failure of the scheme, a committee should be set up to review the implementation of the scheme to cater for all the inadequacies.
“We are also begging for the implementation of the findings and recommendations of the report.
“The Office of Special Adviser needs to be created for pension matters, to put in place a governing board to regulate the activities of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and for our Governor to give us welfare package.”
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‘Living in distressing circumstances’
“The group in a recent petition to Governor Sanwo-Olu to have an audience with him to discuss their plight face to face, Michael added, per Vanguard.
“In the petition by Omisande Michael and Olagbaye Johnson, [state NUP/CPS] Chairman and General Secretary, respectively, the pensioners among others said “We still have so many outstanding Pensions from 2020 till date.
“The Lagos State NUP/CPS Sector writes to bring to your attention the alarming and deplorable condition the Lagos State Contributory Pensioners is currently experiencing.
“As concern citizen and advocate for social justice, there is an urgent need for your government to address these issues promptly.
“Contributory pensioners who have served Lagos State with unwavering dedication and are now living in distressing circumstances, many of us are struggling to make ends meet due to the insufficient monthly pension payment that has failed to keep up with the cost of living.”
Some paid huge pensions, others nothing
“The major cause of this is as a result of non-remittance of our accrued benefit into our Retirement Pension’s Account in 2007 which would have increased our capital in our Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and the removal of gratuity in the new Pension Scheme because government wanted to reduce the cost of governance.
“It’s unbelievable that under the Contributory Pension Scheme Reform Act, 2007, by Lagos State government, a Director on Grade Level 17 earns an average of N70, 000 monthly Pension. Deputy Director N52,000, while Grade Level 14 monthly pension is N42,000. Grade Levels 07 to 09 receive N12,000.
“It may interest you that Grade Levels 1 to 4 are paid off. No monthly pension as if they are aliens in their father’s land.
“We receive an average of ten notifications of death of our members on monthly basis. Several letters have been written to your esteemed office on the above subject matter without any positive response.
“We will be glad if you could grant us an audience to discuss these unwavering issues with you as we could no longer absorb the hardship again.
“Yet fuel subsidy again. The heroes of our fatherland are now in vain in Lagos State. Do something now Mr. Governor.”
