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Rivers Pensioners Seek Better Recognition

Applicants queue for screening during the Nigerian Immigration Service Recruitment in Sokoto State, recently.
The Rivers State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), has sought for better recognition from the state government on issues bordering the welfare of its members.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt, the state chairman of the union, Comrade Festus Promise Abibo decried the pathetic situation of pensioners without proper attention to the issues of their welfare and increment in the pensioners’ allowances as is presently obtainable in some states.
He said pension is a right and as such deserves necessary attention by the state government.
He said the union has appealed to the government to increase the pension being paid to the pensioners but to no avail, stressing that other state governments have effected the increment of their pensioners’ allowances as provided in the constitution.
Abibo said members of the union as senior citizens who have diligently served the state through their years in service deserve due recognition and better welfare from the state government.
He urged the government to appropriately implement the increment of the pensioners’ gratuity and allowance in order to reduce the hardship members of the union are experiencing in the state.
The union boss called for amendment of certain provisions of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004 to streamline retiree pension gratuity payment.
However, the Pension Reform Act allows a retiree to utilize his Retirement Saving Account balance for programmed withdrawal through his Pension Fund Administrator whereby a retiree is paid his monthly pension for a maximum period of 18 years. The union said such policy should be reviewed in line with present-day reality.