Pensioners in Zamfara State have continued to lament the delay in the payment of their April pension by the state government.
One of the pensioners who spoke to this medium on condition of anonymity said, it was unfortunate that eight days in to the new month of May, pensioners in Zamfara are yet to receive their April pension.
He said it has not been easy with some of the pensioners who are yet to receive their gratuity for close to five or six years, yet their small amount of money paid to them as pension is not forth coming.
Another source said, if by Monday they are not paid their pension they have no option than to embark on a peaceful protest to show the entire world what they are undergoing.
Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners Alh Hassan Gusau who spoke to this medium on phone said, it was unfortunate that, the situation of pensioners is becoming alarming since before now, they used to get their payment before the conventional civil servants.
He attributed the crisis to change in the pattern of payment of pension from Ministry of Finance to the State Local Government Contributory Pension Commission as the basis for the sudden changes noting that when the State Ministry of Finance was in charge the story was not the same.
He appealed to the state Governor to temper justice with mercy by considering the plight of pensioners as people who have contributed to the development of the state.
When contacted, The Secretary of Zamfara State Contributory Pension Commission Mansur Mustapha Kaura said the Commission has already concluded all that are needed for the payment of April pension.
He explained that, as at yesterday, the Commission was still expecting money from the state Ministry of Finance as promised, but the alert is yet to be received for onward disbursement to pensioners.
He said up to today Saturday, staff of the state pension commission are still in the office anticipating the release of the fund by the state Ministry of Finance.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Finance Sufiyanu Bashir Yuguda appealed to the pensioners to drop their intended protest since government is working hard to get the situation resolved.
He assured that henceforth pensioners would be getting their pension as at when due.
