The crass show of inequality and obscene accretion of public funds by a few such as this will continue to cause social convulsions in the Nigerian society.
Retirement, which ordinarily is a phase in life redolent with a sense of fulfilment and happiness in other parts of the world, is a nightmare in Nigeria. Workers in the public services in the states of the country retire without being paid their pensions and gratuities for about a decade. Many have slumped and died in endless queues, while undergoing a series of verifications and documentation for the payment of their entitlements.
At opportune moments such as 1st of May, the Workers’ Day, these senior citizens, who spent 35 years of their lives in active service to the nation, and are largely now in fragile health, demonstrate in front of Government Houses and other places to draw public attention to their plights and get their entitlements paid.
Concerned Abia Pensioners, during their protest on 22 April, 2022, put the arrears of their pensions at being for 38 months, while gratuities had piled up for 20 years. One of the protesters, Emeka Okezie, pleaded, “We are asking the government to help us before we all die.” Workers in Rivers State, during their May Day 2022 rally, wore black attires to mourn their dead retired colleagues.
Some may argue that lack of funds is responsible for the crisis. But looting of the public treasury, misappropriation of funds, and the obscenely luxurious lifestyles of elected and appointed public office holders make such logic facile. It is enfeebled the more by the fact that despite the cash windfall to the nine oil producing states in the Niger Delta, they are also embroiled in the pension mess.
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