Catch up with the news!

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Umbrella body for parastatal and private sector pensioners in the country has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the palliatives to them to cushion their suffering as a result of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic.

According to the group, the inclusion of this category of pensioners in the palliatives becomes imperative because of their vulnerability and the need to have money to feed and buy drugs to stay alive as the lockdown lasts.

President-General of  Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners’ Association of Nigeria, FEPPPAN,  Chief Temple Ubani in a statement,  said the senior citizens were passing through serious hardship due to the lockdown order by President Buhari and some states.

READ ALSO: Budget 2020: FG monitors oil market as Bonny Light price dips to $5.30

According to him, “We most humbly request the President to please include Nigerian Retirees spread all over the Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the palliatives meant for distribution to vulnerable Nigerians. Pensioners are among the most vulnerable in any community because of their age and health.

“These Pensioners can be reached most effectively through their pay-points; such as: The Treasury Funded through The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate PTAD, The Self Funding and Private Sector Pensioners through their former Employers and, The Contributory Pensioners through their Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs.

“Though our Union was registered to care for Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners in Nigeria, in a matter like this, we are under obligation to be our brothers’ keeper, hence the general appeal for all Pensioners. We appeal to Government to avoid sending palliatives meant for the vulnerable Nigerian Pensioners to none pensioners for distribution or adopt any other distribution mode that will work hard for the Pensioners, especially the Federal Government funded and Private Sector Pensioners.”

The FEPPPAN boss commended pensioners across the country for adhering to the government’s stay-at-home and stay safe order, as a measure to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

vanguard