Local government pensioners in Cross River have urged the state assembly to pass the pending LG pension bill into law to address payment delays.

Bassey Okosin, the chairman of the Association of LG Pensioners in Cross River, made the call in an interview with journalists on Monday in Calabar, the state capital.

Mr Okosin said many retirees struggled to survive due to irregular pension payments, adding that their pension approval often moved from one government office to another before their benefits were processed.

He said the situation had worsened the health conditions of many retirees suffering from illnesses such as diabetes and stroke.

“Several pensioners have died while waiting for their pensions and gratuities to be paid, and more than 10,000 LG pensioners were affected by the current pension administration system in Cross River,” he said.

He also alleged that some retirees were excluded from previous verification exercises conducted by consultants engaged by the government.

“Over 500 pensioners were reportedly left unpaid after a verification exercise conducted in 2016, and we have repeated petitions and letters to relevant authorities, which have only produced a little result,” he said

The chairman accused some state officials of frustrating the efforts to establish an independent local government pension board.

He said a bill seeking to address the problem had passed first and second readings at the Cross River House of Assembly, but seemed to be stalled after the public hearing stage.

“Pension administration for local government retirees should be handled by officers from the local government service.

“Our members have been mandated to embark on a statewide peaceful protest if our demands are ignored,” he said.

He urged the assembly to pass the pending bill to facilitate the establishment of a functional local government pension board, thereby ending delays and restoring dignity to retired local government workers in the state.

Reacting, the speaker of the state assembly, Elvert Ayambem, said the legislature and executive were meticulous in the passage of bills, adding that every bill passed into law must be people-friendly.

He explained that the LG pension bill was currently at a stage where public opinion was being considered.

‘’The process will help lawmakers craft a law that will benefit the people. It is better to pass a bill that will add value than one that will enslave and increase people’s suffering,” Mr Ayambaem said. 

(NAN)