Posted by By Astro Jewoola on
Police pensioners across the length and breadth of the country, who stormed the police pensions office, at Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, to collect their entitlements, went home disappointed.
Police pensioners across the length and breadth of the country, who stormed the police pensions office, at Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, to collect their entitlements, went home disappointed.
They were asked by the authorities to come back for their pensions as the federal government was yet to release allocation for payment.
About 50 of the the pensioners, who were angry with the official response, later protested to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions, led by Hon. Razak Babatunde Adewusi, who were on a visit to the office.
The pensioners who thronged the office as early as 9 a.m., appealed to members of the committee to assist them by appealing to the authorities to pay their pensions quickly. Among those whose hope was dashed was the widow of late policeman, Abubakar Mohammed, Mrs. Ajaratu Mohammed.
Her husband, she disclosed, was brutally killed on 16 June, 2004, by suspected armed robbers, at Ekpoma, Edo state. 'Since my husband died, I have been saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the children. If only his pension is paid, we will be able to start a new life,' she stated.
Another pensioner, Mr. Daniel Ifejika, 63, a police constable, said he was tired of life. 'If only I could be paid, I will start petty trading,' he added.
In his address to the pensioners, Hon. Adewusi said they were on a visit to the police pensions office, at Ikeja, as part of their oversight functions.
'The House Committee on Pensions is one of the standing committees established by the Pensions Reform Act, 2004. Presently, the committee consists of 19 members representing each of the six geo-political zones.
'Our functions include examinations of all issues relating to pensions within the public service (except pensions of judicial officers), and making recommendations on appropriate measures to ensure timely payment of pensions and gratuity and other terminal benefits to retirees,'he explained.