By Brave Dickson
As inflation continues to inflict economic pain on Nigerians, retirees of the Rivers State Civil Service have pleaded with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to increase their monthly pension and also pay the backlog of pension and gratuity arrears the governor inherited from the previous administration.
The retirees who lost their coordinator in May this year said they met in Port Harcourt to discuss the burial of their colleague, before advancing to the office of the state accountant general to register their plight.
One of the leaders of the pensioners in the state, Comrade Eke Samuel told our correspondent how the removal of fuel subsidy and the high cost of goods and services have negatively affected their day-to-day living.
According to him: “We met to discuss the burial of our coordinator who died in May this year. After that, we decided to go and meet with the state accountant-general to plead with him to interface with the governor to increase our monthly pension.
“We got to his office and the security men said only a few of us could go in and meet with him. The angry pensioners decided to invite the accountant general to come and address us in front of his office. We finally met with the accountant general and we pleaded with him to interface with the head of service and governor to pay the backlog of pension and gratuity arrears inherited from the previous administration.
“So, we have decided to reconvene next month to follow up the matter, so that everybody can get his or her pay.”
Responding on behalf of the state government, the accountant general assured the pensioners that the governor is aware of their plight and would address all the issues discussed.
