Pensioners in Niger State, who staged a protest over unpaid pension and gratuities, have vowed to mobilize the electorate in their communities to vote against All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in 2023.
The heavy downpour did not deter the pensioners, who were seen in their numbers with placards screaming: “No monthly pension, No gratuity, No vote in 2023.”?
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Some pensioners told The Guardian that despite the Federal Government bail-out to states to settle outstanding pension liabilities, the Niger government refused to pay them.?
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During a peaceful march from Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre to Government House in Minna, spokesman for the pensioners, Ibrahim Mahmud, told Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane, that they lost many pensioners due to a lack of funds to offset medical expenses.?
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Mahmud explained that the state government was insensitive to the plight of pensioners, noting that they had been abandoned despite several bail-outs and Paris Club refunds the state had received.?
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“The state has received Paris Club fund and bail-out funds but we did not benefit. You have made beautiful submissions and you expect us to go home and wait? How long would we wait? Your submissions are far from solving our problems; none of our issues has been resolved.?
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“Take your time. We are resolute. We are not going back home. We will be at the gate until we are paid our money because the state is not prepared to pay us,” the pensioners insisted.?
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Source: Guardian