By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Benue pensioners have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to reconsider resuming payment of their three years and seven months pension arrears, recalling that the present administration started payment on assumption of office before abandoning the project.
Elder statesman, B.T Mtsor, in an interview with journalists yesterday in Makurdi, said the immediate past administration had owed pensioners four years’ arrears.
He recalled that Governor Alia ordered payment of two months’ arrears, then three months, on assumption of office but lamented that a backlog of three years and seven months have remained uncleared.
Mtsor acknowledged the steady flow of pensions through monthly payments by the Alia-led administration but advised the government to live up to its campaign promises by clearing the remaining balance of the arrears.
“As I speak, I’m on a sick bed inside my house, I cannot go to the hospital because the pension for November, yes I’ve received it, but the money is already gone,” Mtsor said, lamenting that he used the money to buy food and settle other little family issues that were pending.
He emphasized that the current economic hardship, with high commodity prices, has made it increasingly difficult for retirees who depend on their monthly pensions to feed, pay accommodation, settle school fees, and medical bills.
Mtsor urged Governor Alia to take urgent steps to clear the balance, expressing belief that when this happens, pensioners would have resources to treat themselves, feed family members, and live decently.