The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has refuted claims by the governor Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, that he N1.5 billion as a part payment of pension arrears owed to retirees.
Samson Almuru, chairman of the Adamawa branch of the NUP, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the union was not aware of the payment.
According to him, the state government is owing retirees over N20 billion outstanding pension arrears.
Mr Almuru called on the state government to raise the current monthly pension minimum wage of N4,000 to N26,500 as is being paid in other states.
Mr Fintiri, who made the claim while receiving some members of some political parties who decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday in Yola, said that the approval was meant to improve the living conditions of the pensioners.
“I have given directive for the approval of N1.5 billion for the prompt payment of outstanding pension arrears. Our administration will never relent until all pension arrears are settled from the state down to the local government level,” he said.
The governor assured the party’s new members of equal treatment, adding that the party’s doors were open to every interested politician in the state.
Mr Fintiri said that the PDP would continue to rule the state for many years to come due to the many achievements recorded under his watch.
