NO fewer than 450 retirees of the Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, have died for lack of money to meet their medical and other needs while waiting for the payment of their pensions among other entitlements in the last five years.
Chairman of the NIPOST branch of the National Union Pensioners, NUP, Mr. Joseph Ogunyakin, who disclosed this while speaking with Pension and You, claimed non-payment of pension arrears and gratuities to NIPOST pensioners had caused extreme economic difficulties and other hardships resulting to the death of over 450 retirees in the last five years.
According to him: “Over 450 NIPOST’s pensioners have died and we don’t know whose turn it will be tomorrow. Some are on sick bed now, some are even dying. Things are very difficult for us.”
Oguinyakin who spoke at the inauguration of the newly elected chairman of the Lagos chapter of the union, Akindutire Elija, said the plight of NIPOST pensioners had become common knowledge and a shame to the nation, saying “The whole world knows that pensioners of NIPOST are really suffering.
There is no doubt about that. I am using this avenue to appeal to the government in power to come to our aid. Two months ago we embarked on a prolong protest, not really that we love protest but we have been pushed to the wall. They should not wait until we all die before they come to help us.”
Speaking, after the inauguration, Elijah said the pensioners were owed more than five years pension arrears and vowed that the union would do everything within its power to make government pay.
According to him: “Right now we are having sixty-nine months unpaid. We also have some gratuities unpaid. I am going to get the pension arrears paid and at the same time, I am going to ensure that they are paid as at when due. We don’t know why these monies are not paid and that is why we said instead of dying at home let us shout for the whole world to hear us.
