Pensioners in Rivers state are calling for the fast track of the planned amendment of the Rivers State Contributory Pension Law. The pensioners during a peaceful protest to the state secretariat over their unpaid pensions and gratuities by the state Government, said while it is a welcomed development that government plans to review the law, it is necessary that government acts very fast before the coming election.
Speaking to newsmen, one of the pensioners said:
“We are here today to tell government that we appreciate what they have done and that we want them to expedite action on that amendment, because one thing is saying it, another thing is doing it. We want them not to make this statement a political statement. It should be a statement that is backed up by their actions. Let them back it up by presenting the bill before the Rivers State House of Assembly. The purpose of our being here today is to say government thank you for what you have done and we want you to expedite action”.
The Head of Service, Rivers state, Mr. Rufus Godwins represented by the permanent secretary in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. Nnamdi Opu, while speaking to the pensioners assured them that the state government is willing to meet their demands.
He said: “The biometric is carried out here in this service. As soon as the first huddle is cleared, the next thing is to invite all of you. All your records are there, nothing is lost, so you will be invited. There is no way that you will be a pensioner without being captured on biometric. Biometric will come with ID cards.”
He added, that the beauty of the current exercise is that there is no delay, as the ID cards will be issued immediately they are captured on biometric.
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