By HUSSAINA YAKUBU

The Kaduna State chapter of Retirees? Union under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has resolved to organise special prayers, seeking divine intervention for the payment of their pensions and gratuities.

The Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Nieth Danjuma, made this known during an emergency meeting at the NLC office in Kaduna on Thursday, where retirees lamented the non-payment of their entitlements.

According to him, in spite of the scheme being designed to ensure financial stability for the retirees, many of them in the state are struggling to survive.

Danjuma revealed that in addition to the prayers, the association has decided that the corpse of any deceased member who died due to financial hardship would be taken to the Government House in protest.

The retirees urged the government and the National Assembly to exempt them from the CPS to prevent further suffering and loss of lives.

Mrs. Maureen Yug, a retiree from the Ministry of Education, narrated her difficulties surviving without her pension and gratuity.

The acting Public Relations Officer, Mallam Idris Dan-Asabe, disclosed that over 35,000 retirees were yet to receive their benefits.

During the meeting, the members unanimously called on the authorities to remove them from the scheme, citing severe financial hardship. (NAN)