….as pensioners offers prayers for Ekiti Government and Nigeria
The poor welfare of pensioners across the country has been identified as a major factor contributing to corruption in the Civil Service.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Joel Akinola stated this during an inter religious prayer organized by the union to usher in the new year and to seek divine help over their unpaid gratuities.
During the programme, special prayers were said for the good health of members, success of Oyebanji in office and peaceful election.
Addressing the pensioners, the NUP chairman, Comrade Akinola noted that many civil servants resorted to stealing because they wanted to do everything possible to secure their future considering the current state of pensioners.
He noted that many members of the union had died without collecting their gratuities while many are bedridden and couldn’t afford healthcare services.
Comrade Akinola noted that the union is optimistic that Oyebanji will pay their outstanding benefits considering his body language, willingness and love for elderly citizens.
During the prayer, the Chief Imam of Ansar Ud Deen Mosque, Ado Ekiti, Alhaji Abdulfatah Abdultalib urged Ekiti State government to strive harder to defray the outstanding benefits of pensioners so as to give them relief.
According to him, the state of many pensioners is not encouraging as many of them are living in abject poverty.
Also Pastor Isaac Ayodele said there is blessings in taking care of the old ones.
He said deliberate witch hunting of older citizens is punishable hence every authority must work hard to attend to the demand of pensioners.