…expressed worry over increasing of number infected persons
By Appolos Christian
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), says it is alarmed by the increasing number of infected Nigerians by the novel Coronavirus, and especially because of the vulnerability of its members and senior citizens in the country.
NUP stressed that medical experts have stated that many underlying illnesses the elders people suffers due to their age, place them on a high vulnerability stand to COVID-19 which makes it difficult for them survive the pandemic if contacted.
The pensioners’ union therefore urge all pensioners and elderly people in the country to obey all the directives of government by staying at home pending when the lockdown is lifted. And also wish to inform its members that all the activities of the union that have been shutdown since March 25, will remain thus till May 27, 2020.
Contained in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, the union reiterate its earlier call for the inclusion of pensioners in the government palliative and relief materials being distributed to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 prompted stay at home order.
“Having critically analysed the situation in the country upon the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, the national headquarters has decided to extend the shutdown of its activities to 27th May 2020.
“In line with the last press release from this office dated 24th march 2020 and the increasing numbers of corona virus victims in our country, it became very necessary for safety measures to extend the shutdown of the unions activities for the next one month, especially as the medical experts has revealed that corona virus is unfriendly with the aged people above 65yrs old.
“Therefore, the union activities shall resume officially on Wednesday 27th of May 2020by which time we expect this pandemic to have been contained to the bearest minimum and a vaccine for the virus would have been found.
“However this decision is subject to further directive by the federal government/state government on the on going lockdown.
“Equally, we wish to appeal to the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to consider the inclusion of pensioners in the palliative packages as requested earlier in our press release of Wednesday 15th April 2020.”
NUP also urge government to carry an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of its efforts all through the lockdown both in terms of treating those who have contracted the virus, the speed at which the virus spread, welfare of many Nigerians who are battling hunger at home, and its ability to contain a possible worst situation as the case may be while make further decisions.
