We Are Dying: Tales of Woes Of A'Ibom Pensioners

For senior Akwa Ibom Citizens who have served the State meritoriously and have retired with the expectation of enjoying their old age, their bitter experience and regret could better be experienced than imagined. No thanks for being treated as second class citizens by the present administration despite all that they contributed to the development of the State.
Investigation by The Sensor reveals that apart from retired primary school teachers, other senior citizens like retired Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Departments in various ministries have been abandoned to their fate once they bowed out of service.
Investigation further revealed a painful case of a retired permanent secretary who was yet to receive his entitlements and despite having stroke without money to manage it, was left to his fate and he finally died. It was after his death that government released N2million to his family for burial, an action that members of the family chided the government, describing it as an act of wickedness and insensitivity.
Another pathetic case was that of a retired permanent secretary whose son has a kidney problem but there was no money for treatment even when government owed him his entitlements. It was gathered that when the son died, government also released N20 million for burial, thus, making mockery and a show of heartlessness to the deceased.
It was learnt that apart from the two victims, others are said to be dying unannounced as a result of lack non-payment of their entitlements and no money to take care of themselves.
A visit to the office of the Accountant General of the State revealed more tale of woes as the retirees are seen helplessly queuing to get attention.
One of the visibly weak retirees who spoke with our correspondent said that he has been battling to get his entitlements all to no avail.
The noted that the Accountant General gave them Tuesdays and Thursdays for them to sort out their retirement issues but unfortunately the Accountant General does not usually come to office to attend to them.
The retiree who is in his late 70s, noted that as senior citizens, they do not deserve such ill-treatment despite the claim by the State Government that they have all been settled.
Another retiree who gave her name simply as Mrs. Enobong said that she and other senior citizens have been unfairly treated by the government.
She noted that apart from other entitlements like gratuity which she said she is yet to collect, her basic pension does not come as and when due.
Mrs. Enobong said that even during the military era, uptill the administration of Obong Victor Attah and Chief Godswill Akpabio, pensioners used to collect their money before those still in service with the understanding that they need drugs and other things to keep alive.
She disclosed that with the coming on board of the present administration, everything has changed and they are the last to be paid despite the fact that many of them are having terminal ailments.
Another octogenarian retiree who gave his name as Raphael said that despite the fact that the present administration receives Federal Government refund money, Paris Club refund for settlement of retirees, the government has not settled them. He, therefore called on the governor to look into their plight especially in the area of early payment of their pension and other entitlements.
Attempt to speak with the Accountant General proved abortive as several checks in his office did not yield any positive result. 

©The Sensor Newspaper



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