NAN-H-60
Lunch
Bauchi, Nov.30,2016 (NAN) The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is providing free lunch to Pensioners in the ongoing verification in some states of the North East.
A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) covering the verification in Bauchi reports that retirees are being treated to varieties of meal from 1pm daily to enable them concentrate on the exercise.
Mrs Theodora Amechi, Head of Corporate Communications of PTAD, told NAN that essence of the free lunch was to help the pensioners, most of who were very old and could not withstand hunger.
She said that the gesture would also minimize shuttling to and from the venue by retirees who might want to go out in search of food.
“We are doing our job with empathy because the pensioners are very senior citizens and most of them are very old to withstand the rigours of the exercise on empty stomach.
“On a daily basis, over 300 pensioners are being captured in the exercise and we provide them free lunch and bottled water.
“We do not serve drinks because of their age as we may not know those with health problems that forbid them from sipping drinks.
“We also provide wheel chairs at every venue to assist those that may need them,” she said.
According to her, the pensioners have shown appreciation for the gesture and are orderly and patient in their conduct.
Some of the pensioners, Musa Abubakar, Mohammed Hassan and Monica Garba, who spoke to NAN on the free lunch, said the gesture was unexpected considering the shoddy manner retirees were treated in the past.(NAN)
AE/ASH/ASH