
From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Akwa State Chapter has urged governments in the federation not to joke with workers entitlements allowances , particularly gratuity and pensions which are the only dependable sources of livelihood for retiring civil servants.
TUC chairman in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Akamba Awah, issued the warning while addressing participants at this year’s ‘Decent Workers Day.
“To joke with these entitlements and not paying them as at when due, is sending the retirees to their early graves,” Awah said.
He noted that as public servants whose salaries are nothing to write home about, going by its meagre nature, the future hope of civil servants lie on the gratuity which is their terminal benefit.
His words: “It is very laughable for any government to boast over payment of salaries because this is transient, our future hope is gratuity which is our terminal benefit. It is our last hope because by this time we have no power to do anything again for ourselves because of our age”
According to Awah, “it is a very sad development to see that at the end of 35 years of intensive toil by civil servants or at the age of 60 required by law, retired workers are faced with inability to collect their gratuities and pensions, pointing out that this practice must stop forthwith.”
The TUC boss noted that it was unfair for the government to see the payment of gratuity to civil servants as a favour and not a right. “Please it is the right of every retiring civil servant,” he stressed.
He decried a situation where his members die “without collecting their gratuities which is peanut compared to what is paid to politicians as severance allowance after their jumbo salaries and allowances while in office.”
Leave a Reply