BY Anayo Okoli

Umuahia-THE ongoing validation exercise of pensions with federal share in Abia State, which involves capturing data and photographs, is being threatened by confusion and chaotic situation at the state Pensions Office, venue of the exercise.

Scores of very old men and women, some looking fragile, have besieged the place for days to be captured without success.

Some of them even sat dejectedly by the gates of the pension office on school road in Umuahia, obviously looking very ill.

There were reports of some of them slumping after struggling for several hours to fill the relevant forms and be captured by the only camera provided for the exercise.

Because there is only one camera for the exercise, the process is very slow, which creates a chaotic scenario, as the senior citizens struggle to be attended to.

There were even allegations that the officials who came from Abuja for the exercise were collecting bribes from the old people before they could be captured.

They were accused of having some touts who collect money on their behalf and bring the people who paid into the room to be captured.

84-year-old retired teacher, Prince Frankyklin E. Nwogu, who got frustrated with the situation, rushed to the NUJ office in Umuahia and told journalists to “please help us. Go to pension office and see what old people, pensioners are going through”.

According to Nwogu, the allegation of collecting bribe from the pensioners by the officers was confirmed at nearby guest house. He alleged that “they have their agents who collect money and they handle forms and capture them.”

“There is chaotic situation there everyday. Everybody is complaining. Old people slumped in the process of waiting. I have the forms since the past two weeks but have not been captured.

“I have not lobbied anybody and have no intention of doing that. Sometimes, we come out in empty stomach and stayed there all day.

“This is the time I should be sitting at home and rest but I am being dragged out daily. The situation is very appalling. I retired as a vice principal and deserve good rest now”, he reiterated while calling on the Federal Government to fast track the exercise by providing more cameras.