Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has said the naira scarcity; caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy has thrown many families, including that of the pensioners into a state of hunger and hopelessness.
The Union lamented that pensioners are the worst hit by the policy that “has reduced the Senior Citizens to beggars in their fatherland.”
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by NUU president, Comrade Godwin I. Abumisi and its general secretary, Elder Actor Zal.
According to the statement, the harrowing experiences Nigerians are being forced to undergo in various banks, ATM and POS pay points to legitimately withdraw their hard-earned monies is pathetic and worrisome.
The Union said, “it is on the strength of this that the NUP as a Pressure Group and the true representative of the Nigeria pensioners wishes to strongly appeal that the Federal Government could do better to lessen this burden on the Senior Citizens by taking some temporary measures of paying the pensions of the pensioners in cash as well as according the pensioners priority and preferential treatment at their banks, ATM and POS paying points to avoid the endless long queues experienced at banks daily.”
While proffering solutions to the plight of the senior citizens, the NUP said identifying and singling out the pensioners/Senior Citizens at every pay point and have them attended to immediately to avoid the incident of collapses of older persons at queue points as being experienced currently.
It said, “Or alternatively, the Federal Government could urgently work out any palliative measures for these fragile, endangered species in order to ameliorate their living conditions. Suffice it to say the pensioners/Senior Citizens are the responsibility of the government and their welfare should therefore matter to her.”
It said further that, “It said it is no longer news that Nigeria citizens are going through hell as a result of the introduction and implementation of the non planned and thoughtless naira redesign policy by the Federal Government, with its attendant pains, frustrations and dehumanizing features.”
It noted that the Nigeria Pensioners/Senior Citizens as an integral part of the society are not immune to the devastating effect of this policy on Nigerians and the economy.
