The elderly in the country and pensioners have appealed to all Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan, to ensure that all his laudable plans are brought to fruition.The elders, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), also said they would continue to pray for President Jonathan in all his endeavours so that his good works could continue.In a statement signed by the NUP national president and secretary general respectively, Alhaji Ali Abacha and Elder Actor Zal, the statement noted that the travails which pensioners had gone through in the past had given way for a better life under the leadership of President Jonathan. The statement said: We, members of NUP, deeply appreciate the good efforts made under the leadership of His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and we will continue to pray for his success in all his endeavours so that this good works can continue.We are also aware of other welfare packages which are in store for the elderly in the country. We seek the support of all Nigerians to ensure that these laudable plans are brought to fruition.We thank the president for what he is doing for us. We also thank the Head of Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, for carrying through the reform. We are particularly grateful to the chairman of the Task Force, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, for his selfless service. We pray for peace for the country.The statement added that the elders and all Nigerians were witnesses to the travails of pensioners in the past, which included non-payment of gratuity, non-payment of pensions to enrolled and verified pensioners and non-enrolment of many retirees on the pension payroll, noting that it was painful that many retirees died without collecting their entitlements after serving the nation meritoriously.Our main aim today is to let the whole world know that our situation has changed for the better. We have cried out many times, we have prayed many times and God at last has answered our prayers. We are grateful to God and to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whom he has used to alleviate our sufferings, the statement concluded.It added: Today, through the efforts of the Pension Reform Task Force which was appointed by the Head of Service under the leadership of President Jonathan, pensioners have new stories to tell.The payment of monthly pension has been stabilised. Payments are now made between 20 and 25 of every month and this has been consistent.The union also stated that President Jonathan approved that the Head of Service, Prof. Afolabi and his Task Force team should conduct the enrolment of pensioners in seven centres in the diaspora, and added that the effort has assisted those elderly citizens living outside Nigeria either for medical or other reasons to be enrolled and have access to their entitlements.Describing this move as the first of its kind in Nigeria, NUP commended the president and thanked him for being a good leader.
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