Cross River retirees appeal for pension adjustment, gratuity payment

Retirees in Cross River State have appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to review and harmonise their pensions.

The Chairman of the Association of Retirees in the state, Daniel Effiong, made the appeal while speaking with reporters on Friday in Calabar.

Mr Effiong said pension payments had not been adjusted since 2014, despite successive increases in the national minimum wage.

He claimed that some retirees were currently receiving as little as N4,000 monthly, describing the amount as grossly inadequate to meet basic needs, including food and medication.

Mr Effiong said many former state workers were also still awaiting payment of their gratuities several years after retirement.

He said the situation had become increasingly difficult for elderly retirees amid rising living costs and the declining purchasing power of the naira.

The chairman, however, acknowledged the state government’s efforts to ensure regular monthly pension payments and commended the governor for his promise to release another tranche of gratuities before December.

According to him, the N10 billion gratuity payment made by the state government about two years ago had not completely cleared the backlog, leaving many retirees awaiting their entitlements.

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Mr Effiong urged the governor to review the existing pension structure and introduce consequential adjustments to bring retirees’ benefits in line with current economic realities.

“Such an adjustment will help cushion the impact of inflation and the rising cost of essential goods and services on elderly former workers,” he said.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the association, Frank Odey, opposed any proposal to constitute another committee to handle pension payments.

Mr Odey argued that creating another committee could further delay the payment process.

He said the offices of the Auditor-General and Accountant-General had constitutional responsibilities relating to pension payments.

Mr Odey also called for upward adjustments in pensions and gratuities, noting that the declining value of the naira had substantially eroded retirees’ purchasing power.

He said some retirees, particularly those without other sources of income, were facing difficulties paying for accommodation, healthcare, food and other basic necessities.

Mr Odey urged the state government to sustain regular pension payments while taking steps to review pension rates and settle outstanding gratuity obligations.

He said addressing the issues would provide relief to retirees who had spent their working years in the service of the state.

(NAN)