Pensioners in Katsina have appealed to Governor Dikko Radda to effect increments in their monthly pension.

Abdulrahman Ashura, the state secretary of the National Union of Pensioners, said this when he spoke with journalists in Daura on Monday.

He said the call was in line with sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the 1999 constitution, which stipulated that the pension of retired officers would be reviewed every five years or when workers’ wages were reviewed.

“There was distribution of palliatives to workers unions across the 34 local government areas of the state, and the pensioners weren’t included. Another important grievance is the issue of balance payment of outstanding pension arrears of the period of May 2012 to April 2014 for local government staff,” he added.

He said the gratuity arrears were settled in 2016, while the arrears of the monthly pension were yet to be paid. He commended Mr Radda for setting up a committee to reform the state and local government pension system.

He also commended the governor for his plans to create a pension affairs commission in the state to tackle pensions-related problems.

(NAN)