The Association of Retired State Permanent Secretaries of Nigeria (ARSPSN), Cross River, have appealed to Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade to expedite action on the payment of pensioners’ entitlements.
The association made the appeal on Tuesday in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Effenji Odey, and available to journalists in Calabar.
Odey said that the appeal became necessary in view of the anticipated N18.2 billion bailout fund to be distributed to state Governments by the FG
He said that though the retirees appreciates the industrialization strides of the government as part of the measures to improve the state’s economy the plight of pensioners should not be ignored.
“I have been under tremendous pressure to speak up concerning the plight of our members who have been going through untold hardship. There are unpaid gratuities, pensions, arrears of minimum wage and payment adjustment for domestic servants”
“Some of them are passing through serious health challenges with no resources for medication. We appreciate your untiring efforts at improving the economy of the state through industrialisation despite the lean resources of the state. However, we believe that if you consider the plight of our members when the history of Cross River State is written, your name will be engraved in gold “he said.
Odey advised the Governor to stagger the payment to enable him liquidate the debts while at the same time execute other projects.
“It is my candid advice that we phase the payment and spread it over a period of time until it is liquidated “ he said