It was learnt that the Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State indigene’s hope had been dashed despite going for verification exercises in Lagos and Abuja many times.
His wife, Mrs. Ayotunde Olofinlua, told our correspondent that her husband suddenly slumped into depression and suffered a stroke in February 2010, adding that despite efforts by the family, he had yet to recover.
She explained that the 75-year-old underwent physiotherapy at the Gbagada General Hospital for two years after which he was discharged with some improvements in his movement and speech.
She said after the discharge, the family had continued to spend N30,000 on drugs every month to keep him stable.
Ayotunde said the family believed the septuagenarian might not recover fully until he got his pensions.
She said, “He worked with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and retired in 2003 at the age of 60. He retired at level 14 and was paid his gratuity about three years later.
“Since then, they had refused to pay him his pensions. Before he was sick, he went to Abuja twice and was told to hold on and that they were working on the pension of other people and they would soon get to his turn.
“By 2010, he suffered a stroke and could not go anywhere again. Some people advised us to get a lawyer or somebody in the ministry to help him follow it up.
“We got one of his friends in the ministry. Unfortunately, the man died and we could not get anybody again.
“One of our relatives working in a law firm in Abuja assisted us to follow it up to a certain stage. She later said the pension office said he should wait for another verification exercise and that he would be paid. That was in 2017. We waited and didn’t hear anything.”
She said a family friend later hinted them that the pension office had opened a complaint bureau at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan.
Ayotunde said the family took the retiree to the place and was told that the matter was being handled.
“We were given the names of two people, including one Alhaji Dogo, whom we were told were in charge. We started calling Alhaji Dogo for updates. The last thing he told us was that the case was in the auditor-general’s office. He said after an audit, my husband would be paid. This has been the story all along.
“Our children have spent a lot of money on his treatment. Before now, he could not talk or walk. Although his condition appeared to have improved a little, his hands are paralysed. His words are not clear. The money the children are spending on his treatment is not bearing fruit because his mind appears to be on the pension, which he sees as his entitlement.
“We spend N30,000 on drugs every month. Despite his condition, he subscribes to The PUNCH Newspaper every week, hoping to see information on his pension in the papers. We believe he cannot fully recover until he gets his benefits.”
Our correspondent was shown a copy of Gabriel’s retirement letter, dated May 21, 2003 and signed by one Mrs. E.A. Sadare.
The letter showed that he retired as an Assistant Chief Superintendent of Works.
“With reference to your application dated March 21, 2003, I am directed to inform you that your retirement from the federal public service has been accepted with effect from June 22, 2003 when you would have put in 35 years meritorious service.
“You will liaise with the pension section of the ministry in rooms 126/128, where all documents for your benefits would be processed without any delay,” the letter stated in part.
He was issued a pensioner’s verification acknowledgement form by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, with number LAG/PF/011/11352.
The form showed that Gabriel submitted scanned copies of some documents.
Efforts to speak to Alhaji Dogo, who claimed that the victim’s case was before the auditor-general, proved abortive, as his telephone line rang out several times.
A senior official of PTAD, who did not want to be named, asked our correspondent to write a letter to the agency on the matter.
“If you need to get a formal statement on this particular pensioner you will need to write to PTAD and we will respond,” the official said.
(Punchng)
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