THE chairman-elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Dr Matthew Achigbe, has decried the non-payment of retirement benefits to retirees in the state. Addressing reporters, alongside members of his executive council in Calabar yesterday, Achigbe said the retirees were dying silently from the non-payment of such “benefits that would have enabled them manage this phase of their lives.” He said: “Our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who put their youthful lives in the service of the state are dying silently and gradually from the non-payment of their benefits to enable them manage the retirement phase of their life.
This is happening despite receiving the total sum of N25.6 billion, made up of N17. 8 billion as refunds from the London and Paris Club services and N7. 8 as bailout funds from the Buhari led APC Federal Government of Nigeria, to pay pensions and gratuity owed our senior citizens who are a big human asset to the state. “Imagine that out of 50 retired permanent secretaries, as at 11th August 2015,12 have died without receiving their outstanding benefits. Most of these people died for lack of funds to maintain themselves and manage their health challenges.”