By Oscarline Onwuemenyi
President Gooodluck Jonathan on Monday approved the release of about N1. 5 billion for the payment of April, 2011 pensions, bringing the money released in the last two weeks for the payment of pensions and arrears to pensioners to a total sum of N7.307 billion.

The April monthly pension, which amount to a total of N1, 466,586 272, 95 has been released for payment by the Task force and the first batch of accrued monthly pension arrears and gratuity amounting to N4, 361, 777, 900.96 has ealier been released for payment by the Task Force.

Presently, he said the President has  released additional  N1, 466, 586 272, 95, meant for April monthly pension, adding that it has been released for payment by the Task Force by the Head of Service directive.

The NUP president Alhaji Abacha said the President has now released a total sum of N7.307 billion for the payment of pensions and arrears to the pensioners. According to him, this has been processed and  released for payment to the pensioners.

Alhaji Abacha said the pensioners have acknowledged President Jonathan’s efforts and all he had done for them to ease their problems. He pointed out that President Jonathan has within a short period solved the travails of pensioners, and must be commended for that.

Also, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, said President Jonathan has been a lover of the aged population, the pensioners and the workers in particular.

Chief Wogu said the President has demonstrated this in his prompt reaction to issues of concern to the pensioners and Nigerian workers, particularly, how he addressed promptly and resolved the problems that have plagued the pensioners over the years within the last two years.