The Nigerian Union of Pensioners has called on the Federal Government to pay its members 29 months arrears of the 33 per cent pension increment owed them by the government.
However, the NUP commended the Federal Government for the recent payment of nine months of 33 per cent pension increase to pensioners in the country.
The NUP said the payment of the nine-month arrears by the Federal Government had reduced the suffering of pensioners and also demonstrated the commitment of the Federal Government to the welfare of its retirees.
The President and Secretary General of the NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan and Mr. Actor Zal respectively, urged the Federal Government to ensure the payment of the remaining arrears of the pension increase as soon as the 2015 budget was passed in a statement on Tuesday.
The NUP also emphasized the need for the Federal Government to place pension as a first line charge as obtainable in other countries in honour of the senior citizens.
The leaders of the NUP also appealed to the Federal Government to include all outstanding gratuities and other entitlement of pensioners in the 2015 budget.
The union called on the government to work out the balance of 20.4 per cent of the 54 perc ent pension increase approved by the government and include it in the budget.
The statement read, “However, recalling that the said arrears are from July 2010 to September 2014, and having paid for nine months, leaving the balance of 29 months, we hereby, urged the Federal Government to honour its pledge to the union of capturing the remaining balance of the arrears in the 2015 budget for payment.
“Our members will ever remain indebted to the Federal Government if the balance of the arrears is paid as soon as the 2015 budget is passed.
“Similarly, all unpaid gratuities and other entitlements of pensioners should be as well captured in the 2015 budget for payment.
“We wish to equally make a case that the balance of 20.4 percentage pension increase which made the total 53.4 percentage increase, formally and officially approved by the Federal Government be immediately worked out and captured in the 2015 or in the subsequent budget for payment.”