By Tochukwu Eluwa-Delta

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State in a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary Sylvester Imonina, Esq has expressed its dismayed over the display of nonchalance and arrant disregard towards the well-being of senior citizens who used their youthful years to serve the government and people of Delta State.

In the statement the Delta APC said is ,“of particular concern that those who retired as primary school teachers and Local Government Council Workers! Undisputed information at the disposal of Delta APC is that while primary school teachers and Local Government workers who retired since 2014 are yet to receive their gratuities and pensions, other Government workers who retired since 2016 till date are also eating the bread of sorrow due to the non payment of their gratuities and pensions. It is worthy of note that some of these retirees have given about 35 years of their life to the service of the government and people of Delta State.

The party said it has it on good authority that not less than thirty five retired primary school teachers from Warri South Local Government Area of the State, who retired between 2014 to 2019 died without enjoying the fruit of their labour. They gathered that most of the Deceased died as a result of common ailments that could have been treated without qualms. “We state with all sense of responsibility that majority of the retired Civil Servants in the State have children and wards who still depend on them for their livelihood but cannot meet their responsibilities due to the abject poverty and helplessness that has been foisted on them by the PDP led Government in Delta State” the statement reads.

According to the APC “Unfortunately, majority of those who were/are lucky to have been paid their entitlements, were made to part with huge sums of monies before their files were attended to by corrupt civil servants and “Ogas at the top” who see their positions of trust as money making machines, rather than a call to service! In saner climes, the welfare of the people is the supreme law. In fact, senior citizens, particularly retired civil servants are treated like Kings and Queens, because their contributions to the development of the society cannot quantified. Why is Delta, a State with the highest Federal allocation for the past three years, visiting so much wickedness and insensitivity on her senior citizens!”

“We are not unaware of the fact that the State Government has the data of Civil Servants in the State. It is also a known fact and the rule that three months to retirement, civil servants are notified of their impending retirement by their Ministries/Departments/Agencies and the they are made to proceed on pre-retirement leave. So, why can’t the State Government use that period to prepare all that is necessary for our senior citizens to enjoy their retirement?”

The Delta APC also called on the State Government to up her game by doing the needful to ameliorate the sufferings of our senior citizens. They deserve better living after their service to our dear State.Because absolute power corrupts absolutely, Delta APC also through the statement calls on all well-meaning Deltans to put Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s led Government on its toes in making sure that our “Heroes and Heroines” do not die without enjoying their benefits.