Pensioners in the five
states of the South South geo-political zones have expressed displeasure  over the delayed in the harmonizations of the 18 per cent increase  by some governments.
Rising from their zonal meeting in Yenagoa,  Bayelsa State, the Nigeria Union of Pensioner (NUP), tasked governors in the region on regular payment of pension and gratuity of retirees.
The Union’s Zonal Chairman, Mr Benjamin Ettah who addressed the press at the end of the meeting highlighted various  challenges facing pensioners in the region especially payment of terminal emoluments.
Ettah said paying the gratuity was timely necessary to improve the retirees’ well-being, saying that anything short of this, was an act of ungrateful mess to senior citizens who had put in their best in the service of their fatherland.
He said that the union would prefer a situation whereby Federal Government will create a  minimum pension for its members.
“The six states include: Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo and Cross River; first, we want the 18 per cent minimum wage to reflect on their welfare package”.
“Salary of officers in service have been increasing year in year out but the issue of pensioners are always far in the list to address; so, we want a harmonised pension structure.
“We we are not happy the way payment of retirees pension are been delayed; the suffering of members in the six states is worrisome. “We have sensitised our members on the need to realise that their leaders have never slept nor slumber on the move to achieve good welfare for retirees in the region,” he added.
Ettah, who is also the NUP Chairman in Cross River however, commended their state Governor, Liyel Imoke for harmonising pension for all workers stating that “Pension in Cross River have been increased to 91 per cent by the state government and payment is also up-to-date.
Rivers NUP Chairman Mr Edward Festus-Alabo,  said that payment of gratuity in the state had been on hold, urging the government to resume payment for betterment of retirees.
Festus-Alabo added that pension payment was also not up-to-date, blaming union leaders for being responsible for such hardship on members.
Bayelsa NUP Chairman Dr Emmanuel Namatebe, also frowned at the suffering of pensioners in south-south zone and described it as huge burden to the union.
“In Bayelsa, the 18 per cent minimum wage is yet to be implemented by the state government for pensioners; we have made several moves to actualise good welfare package for members.  “I urge members in all the state to redouble their effort in supporting any platforms that are of good interest of retirees,” Namatebe said.

General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), Mr Celestine Ogolo (left), presenting some copies of Tide Newspaper to the Chairman, 80 County Run, Comrade, M.O. Raleigh – Joe, during the offical visit of the group to the corporation last Tuesday. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken