Pensioners in Rivers State have appealed to Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to graciously, use his good office and approve the payment of outstanding pension liabilities which they put at over seventy billion Naira.
Under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), the retirees, in an open letter to Governor Wike, urged him to consider their predicament and heed to their demand.
In the letter which was jointly signed by State Chairman, Comrade Collins I. Nwankwo and Secretary, Comrade Joseph J. Agbo, the pensioners expressed appreciation to Governor Wike for the prompt payment of their monthly pension allowance but however added that government officials should not misconstrue the payment of monthly pension allowance to mean that all pension liabilities had been paid.
“For further explanation, what government pays is monthly pension allowance, leaving the major ones”, urging the governor to ‘right the wrongs’ and consider the plight of the aged pensioners who, they said, are indigenes of the state.
Adding that pension is a right and not a privilege, the Union affirmed that their demand is backed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 173(3), which provided that ‘pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any Federal Civil Service Salary reviews, whichever is earlier’.
They went on: “It is therefore inhuman for any person who had sworn to the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria to deny pensioners of their entitlements”, they declared.
Some of the unpaid entitlements, according to the Union, include none-payment of gratuities since April, 2015 to date; non-payment accrued initial pension arrears since April, 2015 to date and 6% review of pension rates, Circular No. SWL/S10-1/S.164/289 dated 5th August, 2010.
“15% Review of Pension rates SWL/S10-1/S.164/289 dated 5th August, 2010. On February, 14th, 2002, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation issued a circular No. PNA 32760/S.19/T1/31 dated 14th February, 2003, transferring the responsibilities of payment of monthly pension allowance of retired primary school teachers to their respective state governments. All other state governments had implemented this circular except Rivers State.
“The National Incomes and Wages Commission, Abuja, in October, 2010 issued a circular on increase of pension rate of 33%. This circular has not been implemented by the Rivers State government.
“Since the coming of this administration, the state equally has not paid death benefits of deceased pensioners, that in effect means, that the state government is owing the dead and the living.
“Harmonization of pension earnings. Presently, the state government owes more than 70 Billion Naira on pension liabilities”, the Union stated.
The pensioners said they are not unaware of the financial burden of the state government because of what they called competing political demands on the state resources, but suggested they would be willing to accept installmental payments.
“The drugs required by aged pensioners are expensive and can only be bought with money, even at Government Hospitals”, the Union said.
Gov Wike, Committed To Protection Of Rivers People – Danagogo
The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, has reiterated Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s resolve to the protection of lives and property of Rivers people.
The SSG said that it is not surprising that the Governor popularly referred as Mr. Quality Project leaves no stone unturned to guarantee the safety of all persons who live and do business in the state, as the Governor has intensified efforts to ensure peace and security through deliberate projects delivery and manpower development.
Dr Danagogo stated this during the handover of fully furnished Kpopie police station consisting of an administrative building and 9 units of living quarters for police officers to the State Commissioner of Police in Gokana LGA.
Dr Danagogo said, “the peace and security of the state is paramount.” Adding that, Without peace, there can be no development in communities.
“As we look to government to provide development, there must be enabling environment to deliver on their promises, which is your corporation.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the State, the Governor has asked me to hand-over this facility to the Nigeria Police to ensure that the police live up to their expectation of protecting lives and properties of all persons.
“I urge the police personnel here to take care of this facilities and match the Governor’s expectation for safety. When you do your work right and fight insecurity, you do it for humanity and to God, he said.
He thanked the Dekor and Deyor communities for donating the land for the project. “We appreciate members of the Dekor and Deyor communities of Gokana for providing the land for the construction of the station. It does not stop here, continue to corporate with Government and the police to ensure complete security in this area. If you vandalize this facility, you shot yourselves on the feet.
“I also urge the youths to corporate with the security, desist from vandalism and other vices that may compromise the security of this area,” he emphasized.
The elated Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan, thanked Governor Wike for always fulfilling his promises and ensuring the development of the state.
“We assure you that, by providing comfort for our men, the men deployed to this area will provide their service to the best of their abilities with visible results for all to see. People will sleep with their eyes closed since the police is working with modern surveillance and logistics facility for the entire state”, he stated.
He also promised to deploy members of the trained community police personnel from the Gokana environment to the community.
In the same vein, the Rivers State House of Assembly member representing Gokana Constituency, Hon. Dumle Maol, thanked the Governor for the station which he remarked was the first of its kind in the State. He added that the station and other projects serve as evidence of the Governors widespread projects in all parts of the state.
The contractor represented by the Project Engineer, said that the station houses an administrative block of offices, conference hall and cell, a four-bedroom apartment for the DPO and eight blocks of two-bedroom apartments for other officers fully equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities.
The LGA Chairman, Hon. Paul Kobani, thanked the Governor for ensuring peace and development of the Ogoni people with another laudable the project.
