The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has lauded the Federal Government over the approval and commencement of payment of the 33 per cent pension arrears to the union members.
The commendation was made by its National President, Comrade Abel Afolayan, after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held in Abuja.
Afolayan said there was the need for the Federal government to ensure that the financial implications of the implementation of the 33 per cent pension arrears payment are captured in the 2015 budget.
He urged government to make all categories of pensioners benefit from the approved implementation.
He called upon government to henceforth include pension payments in the first line charge in conformity with global practice, stressing that pension is in the first line charge in other climes as a mark of respect to senior citizens.
Afolanyan said that the union demands that the arrears of the 33 per cent pension increase should be paid without delay, stressing that the balance of 20.4 per cent pension increase to make the total 54.4 per cent increase formally approved should be immediately worked out and captured for payment in the 2015 budget.
The union called upon government to build all unpaid gratuities and other entitlements of pensioners into the 2015 budget for payment.
The NUP boss urged for the harmonisation of pension in such a way that pensioners who retired many years ago would be at par with their newly retired colleagues.
Afolanyan said time is of the essence for all pensioners to come under one umbrella, especially now that those under contributory pension scheme are also experiencing some not-too-pleasant services.