BY HENRY IYORKASE, MAKURDI

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has revealed that the Benue State Government is indebted to retired civil servants to the tune of over N160 billion, with only five months of pension arrears cleared so far.

Chairman of the NUP’s Benue State chapter, Comrade Michael Vembe, disclosed this in an interview with New National Star in Makurdi. He noted that the state government is making efforts to offset an additional five months of the outstanding pensions.

Vembe reiterated the union’s commitment to securing a health insurance scheme for retirees in the state, describing it as a critical step toward improving their well-being.

According to him, the situation of many retirees remains precarious and fragmented, making it essential to implement support systems that can offer long-term relief and dignity to former public servants.

“These initiatives are aimed at providing a lasting solution to the challenges faced by retirees. If fully implemented, they can significantly improve the living conditions of our members,” Vembe said.

He also emphasized that the union is working toward a general welfare uplift for all pensioners in the state. He encouraged retirees to support the current administration to enable the successful rollout of improved welfare packages.

Vembe recalled, with concern, that some pensioners still receive as little as N2,000 monthly. He urged the state government to fulfil promises made during the last governorship campaign, which included a pledge to review and adjust the pensions of those on extremely low earnings.

He noted that the recent approval of N35,000 as the national minimum wage for pensioners by the Federal Government gives hope that similar adjustments will be made in Benue, especially for those with special needs and peculiar cases.

“We are urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to work round the clock to ensure that those receiving the lowest pensions are prioritized for increases, in line with the new national minimum,” Vembe stated.

He commended the present administration for being prompt with current pension payments but stressed that the backlog remains a significant challenge. “Out of the over N160 billion in accumulated salary and pension arrears inherited by this government, only five months have been cleared so far,” he explained.

Assessing the performance of the Alia-led APC administration over the past two years, Vembe acknowledged notable strides in infrastructure and other sectors. However, he admitted there are still areas requiring improvement.

“As with any human endeavour, there are lapses. No government is perfect, and no state is exempt from challenges. But we believe progress is being made,” he concluded.