BY: Sandra Ani
Some pensioners of the Federal Government of Nigeria are expressing fears and disappointment that the Federal Government may have abandoned them in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This platform gathered that some of the retirees have not received their severance packages about thirteen months after leaving the service while others were last paid in December 2019.
There is no reason for this delay, not even the so-called excuse of treating cases of employees who joined the service before the year 2004.
The pensioners are now appealing to the Federal Government to pay their arrears, saying their pensions are for them to live and not for burial.
A pensioner who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said that he and the colleagues are wondering why the Federal Government would choose to abandon them at such auspicious time when Coronavirus is rampaging.
He cited Italy as a country that has demonstrated commitment to the well-being of the elderly statesmen even at a time the healthcare workers appear overwhelmed by the increasing number of COVID-19 patients.
“God forbid that Nigeria experiences the situation Italians have found themselves. Our prayers are with them (the Italians). Same time, we are asking why the Federal Government stopped paying pensioners and other retirees their pension arrears or retirement benefits.
“We have it on a good account from some PenCom officials that after the 2019 elections, till December, 2019, the Federal Government has not been releasing funds for payment to pensioners. That is a very bad way to treat elder statesmen and women who have served this nation.
“We need to be alive to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Our members are dying due to hunger and inability to pay for medicare.
“In the mid-March, Italy was the hardest-hit nation outside of Asia and had become the new epicenter for the global pandemic. Even in that situation, Italy hasn’t abandoned elderly patients to die”, the source said.
The pensioners also used the opportunity to appreciate health officers in Nigeria for rising up to the occasion over the coronavirus and encouraged Nigerians to abide by the precautionary measures to stay safe.