Anambra Pensioners Reject Obiano's Xmas Bags Of Rice; Demand Their Retirement Benefits Be Paid Instead

Retirees in Anambra State have rejected the annual bags of rice given to them by the state governor, Willie Obiano, saying all they want is their retirement benefits paid or nothing more, IgbereTV reports.

According to them, the bags of Rice given to them every Christmas was a ''Greek gift''.

The state chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Dr Anthony Ugozor, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of other pensioners in the state on Wednesday December 9, said that the last gratuity that was paid to them was in 2017. He said if they were paid their gratuity, they will have no need to be collecting bags of rice from the state government every year and that they will have enough money to buy the type of rice they want.

“They give us rice at the end of every year, but the gift of rice is not constitutional. It is a gift which the government is not mandated to give.

If the pension is reviewed as and when due and harmonisation done as it should be done and arrears paid when it is supposed to be paid and we are not given rice, we will be more comfortable because we will have enough money to buy the type of rice we want and still have enough money to attend to other needs.

It is unfortunate that once somebody retires in Nigeria, he is regarded as deadwood because we can neither embark on strike nor give the government an ultimatum. The only thing we can do is to go on a hunger strike, which is even detrimental to our health.

Everything government is doing concerning pensioners is mere pretence and exploitative and that is why I say that no government is a true lover of pensioners, be it federal, state, or local government.”Ugozor said.

Almaiga:
Chai, Igbo don suffer aswear. Where do they get their leaders from?


In Abuja, 20k was shared to the citizens. In Lagos and other state across the federation, food stuffs are being shared to their citizens.

But in Igbo land, na Eba them dey share.

Africonji:
Smh. I have always said it but paid agents like that useless boy chino will be abusing me. Willie Obiano the drunkard has looted and impoverished Ndi Anambra than any previous governor. But he must return every kobo. Mark my words.

Freestainworld:
Obiano and Eastern governors are a disgrace to the Igbo Nation

sylve11:
the problem with the government is that, after keeping your pension funds for you; they later realised you are not entitled to whatever they have been paying you, that the money saved for you is a favor you are not supposed to get.

Claudiusdeux:
Most states are broke.

Nigeria's tax to gdp ratio is 5.8% . The truth is, Nigeria has been relying on oil money to fuel our GDP and to do a host of things.

But the oil isn't enough to sustain our 206 million people. So either Anambra taxes its people more heavily, or they look for a loan to pay their pensioners.(and getting back the loot is good too...till the money runs out)

lexy2014:


Story story. U can keep believing that "broke". They are broke & they are still stealing

Claudiusdeux:


Yeah that's the painful thing.

The corrupt are stealing from an already poor treasury.

And our budgets too are poor.Anambra budget for 2020 was 137billion naira, revised down to 114billion naira. That's 360 million dollars approximately. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has a budget of 80 billion a few years ago.

All because Anambra waits for oil money, while Pennsylvania charges taxes and is productive as well.