Concerned Pensioners In Nasarawa State Calls For Protest Vote As Hunger Looms

Rabiu Omaku

Cross section of pensioners in Nasarawa State has expressed anger over the present predicament they are exposed to following the stoppage of percentage payment being paid to them.

Some of the aggrieved retirees expressed shock outside the premises of the National Industrial Court, Makurdi calling on members not to vote  governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura who is contesting for Nasarawa South Senatorial seat.

The pensioners who spoke separately described the trepidation as one many.

Mr. Mathew blamed the State government over the increasing squalor, deprivation, agony his family are passing through since November 2018 when the state government gave the directive.

According to Mathew, “I’m from the Department of health, Nasarawa Eggon and my entitlement is over N7000,000m but I was given N100,000 almost four to five months and how do you expect me to feed my family, pay school fees, build a house after 35 years of active service”.

Also Kigbu expressed anger over the development, calling on retirees to use their Permanent Voters Card to stop the ambition of Al-Makura.

The State governor is under pressure following the increasing lacuna by civil servants which is about crippling government operations in the State.

Pensioners in Nasarawa State,it would be recalled drag the State government to court challenging the payment of pencentage pension at the National Industrial Court,Makurdi,

It could be recalled that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria,Nasarawa State wing on November 2018 had embarked on strike protesting illegal deduction of their salaries.

JUSUN recently gave the State government one week ultimatum to meet up to their demand or cripple government businesses,the Union demands include the reopening of Customary court which were wiped out by governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as well protesting illegal demotion of staff by the State Judicial Service Commission headed by the Chief Judge of the State Justice Suleiman Dikko.

The ongoing impasse between JUSUN and the Chief Judge lead to the dismissal of 20 staff whom are mostly officials including a female ailing staff who was not present during the protest that disrupt sitting presided over by the C.J.

Again, few days before 2019 Presidential and National Assembly election, the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions has also join their counterparts to down tool following the inability of the State government to implement their outstanding 2015,2016,2017,2018 promotions.

Recalled that the incumbent governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura was a beneficiary of protest vote which ousted out late governor of the State, Aliyu Akwe Doma whose administration was marred by strike actions leading to the total shutdown of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.

The nagging questions to asked is what would be the fate of the over 2000 teachers engaged few months before the expiration of his second term in office?  Are they permanent and pensionable? Was there appointment letters given to them? And did the siting governor followed due process for the appointment, that is was advertisement placed and examination conducted ? to avert what is obtainable in the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia where 29 staff were subjected to humiliation after 7 days of serving the institution.

The Chairman, Patrick Ogah who took over from the former leader that died mysteriously following an exchange of words with the Director General, AbdullahiiOsaze declined comment, saying he was advice not to comment on the issue.

In a related development the planned press conference was postponed.