LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Pensioners in Zamfara State have lamented non-payment of their pensions for the last four months.
According to Punch reports, many pensioners revealed that they were going through rough times as they find it very difficult to feed their families.
One of the pensioners, identified as Mohammed Aminu, said he had sold almost all of his belongings in an effort to feed his family, lamenting that he could not afford even a square meal per day.
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Aminu appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal to look into the possibility of settling the four months’ pension arrears so as to save the lives of many pensioners who are completely devastated due to object poverty.
He, however, stressed that former Ex-Governor Bello Mattawalle was responsible for the pensioners’ predicament because he was not able to pay them for three months during his tenure.
“We are not blaming the present Governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, for the situation we are in at the moment because he inherited this mess from his predecessor, Bello Mattawalle”.
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Another pensioner, Garba Shehu, speaking with Punch, revealed that his three children were sent out of school since he couldn’t pay for their school fees after several warnings from the proprietor of the school.
“I am ashamed of myself because my children are no longer attending classes despite my position as former director in one of the state ministries,” he said.
Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal on Broadcast Media, Press and Public Affairs, Malam Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, said arrangements were in the pipeline to settle the pensioners as was done to civil servants.
Jafaru said the pensioners would very soon smile, adding that “Their issue is currently being discussed and action will soon be taken”.