The Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has decried the non payment of the gratuity of retired primary school teachers by the federal government.

Speaking to newsmen recent, the Caretaker committee chairman of the state Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Hon. Alvan Ikegwuru said suice 2002, retired primary school teachers have not been paid  their gratuity in the state.

According to him, “government has not implemented teachers 23 percent, 15 percent and 12 percent increment accordly, adding that such increment will go  a long way in alleviating the economiC and financial burden of the stated retirees in the state.

Ikegwuru also expressed his displeasure on the issue of secular payment, noting that various states have been mandated to take over the payment, but expressed concern over the non implementation of the secular payment in Rivers State.

The Care taker committee  chairman stated that since the introduction of  E-Payment, the Rives State chapter of pensioners have been facing serious problems, noting that from may last year, “we are yet to receive our money. Those at the federal level also face the same problem. Nothing has been paid  to them since the E-payment.

He lamented that the increasing number of deaths of retirees could be attributed to non availability of funds to cater for their immediate needs.

The chairman, however, urged both the federal and state government to look into the issue of delay in the payment of gratuity to retired teachers.

Sogbeba  Dokubo