By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Pensioners in Kebbi under the aegis of Pensioners Pressure Group, has called on governor of Kebbi state, Dr. Nasir Idris to add the percentage agreed upon by the federal government to the existing pension of Kebbi retirees.
Babangida Garba Gwandu, the pressure group chairman, said that he is aware that Kebbi government is yet to receive the circular for the implementation of the new percentage payment for pensioners but said that the call is necessary in order to keep tabs on the government to hasten the payment once it gets the nod.
Gwandu who commended the governor for his regular payments of gratuities stated that even the contentious issues of 2016, 2017 payment gap has been paid.
“It is in our nature as pressure group to call spade a spade at the same time commend good steps”.
He urged pensioners in the state to support any government that has human face and to remain calm, peaceful and prayerful as their demands are being pursued and being implemented gradually by the government even as he admitted that federal pensioners too are yet to get the new percentage but he is optimistic that Kebbi governor will pay the percentage once it has been approve by the federal government with backing circular.
Recall that the federal government has approved N70,000 minimum wage for workers in service and 30 percent pension increase for retirees across the country while governors are expected to add 20 percent to state pensioners.