Imagine this, a sea of grey-hair, physical frail
individuals; some could barely walk without the aid of a
stick, and some shaking intermittently as a direct
consequence of old age; forced to stand on queue for several
hours under scorching sun, for unspecified number of days.
The reason; they were once again converging for the annual
rituals of biometric data registration and verification,
having diligently served Nigeria in the most productive
years of their sojourn on planet Earth. Simply put, these
are pensioners, now left at the mercy of State given
stipends to keep body and soul together when they still
live. This is the rueful state of the stark reality of
Nigeria pensioners, since 1951 when she launched her Pension
scheme.
The plight of pensioners, especially in Nigeria, would be,
and is a major cause of concern for any sane individual.
From having to endure a less than conducive work environment
while in service, to coping with unending months of waiting
on the government for payment of gratuity at the point of
retirement; the poor pensioners are left with little or no
hope when it comes to the prompt receipt of their monthly
peanuts from the country. Funny enough, the backlog of this
paltry sum sometimes run into months, and perhaps years
without any sense of urgency from the concerned authority.
Unfortunately, many of these senior citizens have had to
answer the call of nature while struggling for their
constitutional right over the years.
Sadly, the story has refused to change; even in 2011, as the
press has been awashed with news of many of the pensioners
either collapsing or succumbing to the cold hands of death,
in different parts of the country. For instance, it was
reported that an 80year old man (Olusa Ayodele) died during
the recently conducted screening of pensioners in Akure
(Ondo state). Also, many of the pensioners allegedly
slumped, and had to be resuscitated during such exercise in
places like Ibadan, Asaba, and Benin City; thus continue
this pathetic yearly occurrence. Even, the Pension Reform
Act of 2004 has achieved very little in bringing succour to
the predicament of the suffering retirees.
Although, many of the poor pensioners exonerate the Federal
government, especially the Presidency from the harsh
treatment which they are subjected to, year-in year-out;
they however pointed accusing fingers to the Federal Pension
Board, and some civil servants, many of whom they claim are
unsympathetic to their quandary. In turn, the civil servants
have in some instances, pointed to the inadequate
availability of data capturing facilities as the primary
excuse for their ineptitude in attending to the pensioners
promptly. Nonetheless, it is shameful to realise that a
country like Nigeria, which could afford to expend billions
of Naira on the procurement and maintenance of similar data
capturing machines for the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), just a few months back could complain of
inadequate machinery, only when it comes to validating
pensioners’ data. Therefore, bureaucratic bottlenecks cannot
and should not be a tenable excuse, even in the first place.
In all of these, there is a very dangerous trend which our
political leaders have not been looking at; the cognisance
of the fact that Nigeria stands to lose than it can ever
gain when one considers some perspectives.
Firstly, Nigeria seems to be suffering from a grave loss of
confidence, most principally among its young populace.
Nigerian youths are regretfully becoming very frustrated,
less patriotic, less passionate and enthusiastic about the
country of their birth. This was clearly demonstrated,
though unnoticed, during the last general elections, going
by the number and demographic distributions of those who
voted. Many octogenarians, like my grandmother, endured the
unfriendly weather conditions of that period to vote, not
once, but over a month; whereas many of the more vibrant and
energetic youths only turned the streets into football
playing ground when the exercise lasted. The few that
participated were only cheaply exploited as political thugs
by greedy politicians.
Secondly and closely related to the initial postulation is
the attendant brain-drain which the country has had to face
recently. I was abashed to read a journal some years ago,
that about 30, 000 medical practitioners of Nigerian
nationality are lawfully working in the United States, even
as our medical institutions back home are lacking in
experienced and capable hands, in terms of number. Recently,
it was reported in the media that a total of 6, 500 legally
documented Nigerians are presently undergoing studies in
various disciplines, in the same United States. We can
expect only a few, if any at all, to return back afterwards.
And, the crux of this cannot be far-fetched: a nation that
treats her old population with disdain and “use and dump”
syndrome will definitely have little in stock for her young
offsprings.
Perhaps, a country that deemed it fit to announce handsome
financial gratuity to former Heads of State, despite their
less than dignifying involvement in bringing the country on
her knees through massive corruption, nepotism, and cronyism
while in power; should also be expected to be serious in
providing a permanent remedy to the suffering of her former
civil servants, many of whom still have to shoulder the
responsibility of payment of tuition fees of their young
wards, who are tied down to tertiary education, not due to
their academic incompetence, but as a result of incessant
strike actions in government owned universities which their
parents could afford, with no hope in sight.
At this juncture, it is also very important to call for a
speedy action in addressing the allegations of corruption
among the hierarchy of the Federal Civil Service. This is in
line with the latest discovery of misappropriation of
several billions of Naira belonging to pensioners, which is
now in the full glare of the public, just like the
N12billion purportedly embezzled at the Pension Board
earlier in the year. This act of impunity must be stopped at
all cost if we are to be seen as sincere in changing the
domestic and global perception of Nigeria positively.
Ajala, a recent graduate of Politics and International
Relations from Lead City University, Ibadan, can be reached
via ajalatravel07@yahoo.com
Published
October 25th, 2011
