By Dr. Gibert Chigbo, retired civil servant

 PENSIONERS,by definition, are old people, over sixty (60) years old, of dubious health and vitality and their stipends should be, and used to be among the first disbursements made from Government Funds. The present reality is different.

A report in a popular daily newspaper over thirty five (35) years ago told the story of a police man, living in Maiduguri, and chasing the payment of his entitlements in Lagos. His salary had of course been stopped on his retirement and his travel and accommodation costs were borne largely with loans from friends and relations. In his petition, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, he asked for his gratuity to be paid, not necessarily so that he could enjoy it, but so that he could repay the loans he had incurred in his years of  to-ing and fro-ing between Maiduguri and Lagos.

Reverting to our definition of the average pensioner as old and with health problems such as poor eyesight, arthritis, blood pressure, cardiac problems, prostate problems, and other afflictions of the aged, one might try to see whether the administration of pension is designed to give pensioners some happiness in their declining years, or to accelerate their obedience to the State Governor’s advice to stay home and die.

The Federal Pensions offices in Enugu are located in about eight  rooms on the top floor of the Federal Secretariat, and about four  rooms on the ground floor of the same wing of the same building. The ground floor rooms are hardly used, and these pensioners (some of whom are over 80 years old), are compelled to drag themselves up to the top floor to lodge their complaint. The man they seek, who will handle their problems, is well known in Government offices. His name is Mr. “NOT ON SEAT.”

The reason, sorry, excuse, given for such inhuman treatment of old people who are not just old and decrepit but include amputees, is security. Pension forms are too important to be left in safes or strong rooms etc. on the ground floor, which also accommodates the Immigration Department.

A further point concerns solving pensioner’s complaints. The powers and authority of the head of the Enugu unit are limited. Indeed the impression given to most pensioners is that their problems can only be solved in the headquarters in Abuja, and the role of the Enugu office is little more than listening sympathetically to pensioners’ problems, collecting letters, delivering these letters to Abuja and hopefully bringing back a reply.

It is difficult to see ONE good reason why a sufficiently responsible officer cannot be posted to the Federal Government Secretariat in the states and charged with the responsibility for clearing the problems of pensioners within his jurisdiction expeditiously.

This is an unbelievable imposition and a totally inhuman treatment of our so called “Senior Citizens.” The Tin Gods descend from the Abuja heights and the pensioners flood the arena to prove to them that they are still alive before they have to return to their heights. Some pensioners die before they can prove they are alive. I know… I saw one.

The physical arrangements for “verification” beggar description. Enugu has made some improvements over the years. Initially, pensioners found standing room sufficient for a queue to be formed parallel to the counter of the Sub treasury. On one occasion a pensioner got to the end of the queue only to be told that his case could not be handled that day and that he should return the next day. This was after 4.00p.m and light was failing. The pensioner received the news in silence but made no attempt to move.

On being questioned, he confirmed that he understood what he was told, but said he had no money to get to his home about three  miles away, and to return the following day. I gave him enough for the return trip and it turned out that he had another problem- poor sight. On trying to leave the Sub-treasury, he failed to see the corner that he had to turn to get to the exit, something that was clearly visible to every body else, and he continued walking until he head butted the end wall.

On another verification exercise a sick man was driven in a car to a point about 40 yards from the tin young girl rose and offered the old lady her seat. The old lady thanked her kindly, then turned to another old woman seating next to her and said “these blacks, they are so kind. It is a pity they are not human.”

The administration of Government Pensions in this country has given rise to innumerable horror stories for so long that one wonders whether these at the top levels of such administration are human or even compassionate.

This narrative begs a number of questions some of which have been touched upon already.

First, why should the exercise be carried out in all 36 state capitals simultaneously? Second, how was the duration arrived out?

Third, did the planners take into account the total number of pensioners involved, and their locations?

Fourth was any attempt made to determine the average length of time it would take to process one pensioner? In Enugu, the amount of time required has proved to be far greater than originally estimated and changes are constantly being made.

Fifth, why should there be a final date and what happens to those who, for health or other reasons, are unable to be present on the stipulated dates?

There are other questions but we shall leave this topic for the moment and look at the physical provisions for the exercise.

The ground floor of the Sub-Treasury building, next to the Pensioners’ Union which is not being used, is empty; it is in two sections each equipped with counters, cashier’s cages and large waiting areas for customers/pensioners. In addition,there is a small brick built structure erected for the pension union and now not in much use. These buildings add about 8000 ft2 to the Union buildings 2000 approximately. They were not been used.

The building used was the hall of the Enugu branch of the Union of Pensioners. During this period, it provided some shelter for the pensioners if it rained. There were no seats. The hall could therefore take in about 500 standing pensioners if packed like sardines.

On a dry day, most people stood outside sweltering under the sun. Some people brought their own seats, one or two brought mats, some tore up used cartons and sat on the cardboard sheets obtained.

The processing was carried out in a room of about 400 square feet, containing 7 tables at which sat 8 officials. This arrangement was clearly grossly inadequate for officials, pensioners collecting forms, and pensioners waiting for verification. The latter process was slow, apparently because of the computer. The rate of completion was said to be less than 25, daily, and it was claimed also that the verifiers’ objective was to issue 200 forms daily. Pensioners can only take comfort from the statement attributed to the visitors to the effect that they would verify everybody who turned up. As for me, I will be patient, stay alive I hope, and join other pensioners in their prayers.

My involvement in the current verification exercise is approaching the end. On Sunday 27th June; I succeeded in submitting the form I collected the previous Thursday. I had got to the Sub Treasury at about 12.30p.m on Sunday, coming almost directly from the church. At dusk, about 6.00p.m, those of us still hoping to submit our forms were allowed in. There was a rush. There had been no mains power and the work of receiving the forms was done with light provided by cell phone I have one more step, go back into the office, present the form that had been stamped the previous (Sunday) evening, and collect the cheque that is due to me. If I am able to do so on Monday 28th June, I would have been at the Sub-Treasury all day and everyday for every 8 days including Saturday and Sunday.