RIVERS STATE
There was excitement among Rivers State pensioners as the state government cleared over seven months of pension arrears owed them.
The pensioners said the development was an uncommon magnanimity, adding that they could now pay their health bills.
The senior citizens had lamented earlier over the failure of the government to pay their pensions promptly.
They wrote appeal letter to Governor Nyesom Wike, who ordered for Biometric Verification Exercise of the pensioners.
Wike paid the backlog of seven months to the pensioners on Friday.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, the State Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Edward Abibo, said the governor had saved the pensioners from dying.
Abibo, who thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise, stated that the governor paid their arrears from April to October 2016.
Abibo, however, tasked Wike to attend to the issues of pension increase, which the body had presented before him.
