Bayelsa State pensioners, under the aegis of Association of Bayelsa Pensioners, have accused the Seriake Dickson's administration of owing them over N20bn gratuity arrears and four months unpaid pension.

The Coordinator, Association of Bayelsa Pensioners, Chief Bodise Amara, made this known in an interactive session with Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Bayelsa State. Timipri Sylva.

Amara said though they were not out to campaign for any candidate, the present administration of Dickson had failed the retirees by owing them pension gratuity debt of over N20bn and unpaid pension arrears of four months.

He maintained that the pensioners in the state had not been paid their gratuity arrears since 2014.

"Sylva left the sum of N3.5bn as pension arrears and gratuity. The pension and gratuity arrears are now N20bn. We don't know when we would be paid. We are not campaigning but we are saying that for four months, pensions have not been paid.
"So many things are happening in Bayelsa and nobody is considering the pensioners. When he (Sylva) has decided to come and tell us he is contesting, we pray for him. Any Governor that considers the plight of the pensioners, God will bless him. Anybody contesting should have met with the senior citizens. The prayers of the elders will help him. The battle has already been won."

In response, Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, sympathised with them over their predicament.

He assured them that if elected into office as governor, his administration would place much premium on the payment of their gratuity and pensions.





http://www.newsspot-ng..in/2015/11/bayelsa-pensioner-accuse-dickson-of.html?m=1

Politics