Miserable that his 36 months pension arrears have not been paid, a retired headmaster, Timothy Dumberi Akpede, has appealed to President Goolduck Jonathan to prevail on the relevant federal agencies to pay him.
The pensioner, an 87-year-old man, now blind, was the headmaster of several schools in the defunct Ika Local Government Area of the then Bendel State.
Akpede was later redeployed to Ede Grammar School in Umunede, where he retired meritoriously in 1984.
The blind pensioner, who lost his sight over 11 years ago due to lack of funds, said payment of his pension became zigzag in July 2010 after a screening exercise was conducted on him.
He said: “In June 2010, I appeared for the data capturing exercise in Agbor.
“I was cleared and I was immediately issued a cheque for the month of June that year.
“After that, the Federal Government authorities in charge of the payment of retirees federal share of pension did not pay me for the remaining part of 2010 and 2011 when I appeared for another screening exercise in Asaba.”
While Akpede lamented that the complaint he lodged about the non-payment for 11 months (June 2010 till date) and the 36 months outstanding arrears of his federal share of pension fell into deaf ears, he said: “I would have died if not for my children and well-wishers who care for my hospital bills and other upkeep.”
He wondered why the Federal Government kept him in a heartbroken condition, having served his fatherland on merit.
He said: “I don’t know that sin I committed that made the concerned federal authorities to seize my pension for 36 months.
“Or is it a crime to be a pensioner in Nigeria and live up to 87 years?”
The visibly agonized Akpede appealed to the authorities concerned to promptly investigate the circumstances leading to the seizure of his money to enable him enjoy the fruits of his labour.
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