Nsukka, Nigeria – A heartbreaking encounter between a retired civil servant and a visiting dignitary at Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka, has once again highlighted the plight of Nigeria’s elderly pensioners and the insensitivity of the nation’s leadership.
During an official visit to the institution, a concerned leader (PO) noticed an elderly woman desperately trying to get his attention. While security personnel and others around attempted to silence her, he insisted on hearing her out.
The woman, a retired civil servant, lamented that she had not received her pension for a while. Admitted to the hospital for over a week, she had mounting medical bills but was more concerned about not having even a single Naira to buy food.
Moved by her distress, PO expressed anger and sorrow, stating that leaders who deny pensioners their due benefits have made life unbearable for many. He pointed out that, as a Governor, he had paid over N30 billion in outstanding pensions and gratuities because he understood the pain of senior citizens.
While he provided immediate financial assistance and promised to follow up on her case with the hospital, PO emphasized the need for systemic change. He stressed that many like her are suffering in silence across the nation, urging that Nigeria must become a country where every citizen receives the rewards of their labor.
