Retirees across the southwest states have disclosed that Governors in the zone are owing them nothing less than N242 billion in gratuities and pensions. The retirees under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) who gathered in Akure, the Ondo State capital during their zonal council meeting berated the governors for shirking their responsibilities.

According to the pensioners who spoke through the Zonal Secretary of the union, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, said it is sad that despite allowing pensioners in their states to live in penury, some of the governors went ahead to obtain nomination forms running to the tune of millions of naira. The pensioners also frowned at the manner in which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had been taking up their plight with relevant authorities.

They maintained that the two unions should as a matter of urgency take their matter with all seriousness as they will also become pensioners in the future. Comrade Abatan stresses that all efforts are now being geared towards the 2023 general elections, while security and wellbeing of the citizenry are no longer on the plates of our politicians and political parties. He however said their members have been sensitized to shun politicians who are not pensioners friendly across the region.