COMPLAINTS and frustration have  trailed the biometric exercise that ends this weekend across the country as many pensioners claimed they have not  been screened due to shortage of manpower and equipment.

Speaking with Pension and You, Chairman of South West zone of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, who doubles as the Ondo State chairman of the union, Comrade Eni Olotu,  said over 2000 members in Ondo state were not registered.

Olotu said, “during the exercise, the people who carried out the assignment came with just two computers which were not enough for the pensioners in the state. Despite that many of our pensioners came from far places for the exercise, those posted to the state still messed up. One of the laptops being used for the exercise was stolen. So, do you know blame pensioners for the Head of Service ineptitude? It is not true that our members are not available for the exercise. Some whose data were captured during the exercise also have one problem on the others”

”It has again been proven that Nigeria is a failed state. There is nothing that government can do well. We have served the country meritoriously and deserve to be treated well. The government is only giving us our right and nothing more. It is not a favour or privileged.”

Speaking on the death Ayodele, Comrade Olotu described it as unfortunate.

He blamed the Federal government for the incident.

Olotu said that during a three day seminar before the biometric revalidation, it was agreed that the officials would go and meet with those indisposed instead of them coming to the state capital for the exercise.

“But it is unfortunate that they reneged on this  promise. I spoke to the son of the deceased and he told me that he had been sick for sometime before he was brought down to Akure for the exercise. l told him that they ought not to have risked his life by bringing him down.”

Olotu however praised the state government who responded swiftly to the ugly situation by proving ambulance and other logistics.

Execution aspect

The Chairman condemned the sale of form at N500 to pensioners, lamenting that out of desperation, a traditional ruler paid N4000 for a form that was supposed to be given freely.

According to him,  “initially one capturing machine was made available to the state with 5000 pensioners, but after we complained they added another one which is even not adequate. What is happening to pensioners in this country is highly unfortunate and the Federal government knows what to do to alleviate our suffering. The Federal government should be given an award for planning its programmees but it is unfortunate that the execution aspect is always woeful.

One of pensioners, who was a former Information Commissioner, Chief Femi Aluko, said the process was slow and that “it is unfortunate that while the Ondo State is paying pensioners regularly the Federal government is punishing us by not paying.”

Aluko called on the federal government officials to change their attitude towards the senior citizens who scarified many things in the interest of the government.