Southwest pensioners threaten court action against Ekiti govt

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has threatened to drag the Ekiti State Government to court if it fails to pay the check-up dues of its members before the end of the month.

The resolution was reached at the Southwest meeting of the Union held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

NUP Southwest Public Relations Officer, Dr. Olusegun Abatan, told reporters that the government was “causing division in the Union by welcoming another group of pensioners”, describing the move as unconstitutional.

The pensioners urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to focus on governance and stop interfering in their affairs.

They insisted that the governor had more pressing responsibilities that should make life meaningful for residents instead of meddling with pension matters.

Dr Abatan alleged that the state government had withheld pension payments for five months, calling the action “an aberration and uncalled for.”

He urged Oyebanji to “leave pensioners alone and focus on his constitutional roles of governance.”

He argued that “no country in the world taxes pensioners”, adding that if the government must impose taxes, it should first increase the take-home pay of workers and retirees.