By Adnan Tudunwada
Pensioners in Kano State have staged protest over non payment of their gratuities by the state government.
The pensioners, who gathered at the office of state Pension Trust Fund on Sokoto Road, said they had not been paid their gratuity after two years of leaving service.
The protesters, who pleaded anonymity, citing victimisation, admitted to collecting their monthly pension allowance but not their terminal benefits.
“All efforts to get the payment proved abortive. When we inquired why the payment was delayed, the staff of the pension board advised us to look for an influential person or a top politician to stand for us make the list of the payment as it is selective.
“If you don’t have someone it will be a waste of time,” an old-age pensioner said.
Sources at the pensions board also told Daily Nigerian that payment of the benefits are only made when an influential personality stands for a pensioner.
Contacted, the spokesman of the board, Sulaiman Dederi, denied the pensioners’ claim, saying the delay was occasioned by economic recession in the country.
He also blamed the immediate past administration for bequeathing the pensioners’ debt burden on them.
Mr. Dederi assured of the board’s efforts to address the matter.
