Rivers: Pensioners Beg for Inclusiveness in Christmas Bonus

.Lament high cost of living 

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

Threatened by the high cost of living occasioned by the incessant hike in the cost of food items and drugs, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Rivers State council, has begged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to come to their rescue.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, NUP executive members decried some of the challenges faced by pensioners in the state.

The state Chairman of NUP,  Mr. Collins Nwankwo and Secretary, Dr. Joseph Agbo, lamented that pensioners were unable to access quality health services, buy drugs, food, because their pension was insufficient to address their needs.  

They appealed to the governor to graciously consider their plight and include pensioners of the state for the payment of the recently approved N100,000.00 each to civil servants.

Describing the pensioners problems as very pathetic, especially as regards to the cost of drugs, the union executives said, “We the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Rivers State Council congratulate Your Excellency, the Governor for the Christmas bonus of N100,000.00 to each civil servants in Rivers State, we say, thank you. 

“We, the executive of the NUP, plead with you to also graciously consider the plight of pensioners of this state. The cost of living is very high and we buy from same market. 

“The pensioners’ problems are very pathetic, especially the cost of drugs. Based on this, may we therefore appeal to you to consider payment of the Christmas bonus of N100,000.00 to each pensioner, as what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.” 

They further prayed to God Almighty to bless Fubara and his family for “considering the plight of pensioners of the state.”