By Omar Bah
A Gambian pensioner, Alagie Mbye Jeng, has penned an open letter to President Adama Barrow, urging increased pensions for underpaid retirees.
Gambian pensioners are grappling with significant financial challenges from economic instability, high inflation, and insufficient pension schemes. The country’s fiscal situation is precarious, with a public debt crisis and limited revenue collection worsening the circumstances for retirees.
“Many pensioners face a shortage of income, as the public service pension scheme fails to adequately cover their living expenses, resulting in rising poverty rates among the elderly,” Jeng stated. He emphasized the ongoing struggles of pensioners who have seen minimal adjustments to their monthly allowances. Jeng called for urgent government intervention to alleviate these financial hardships, highlighting the necessity for fair compensation considering the country’s escalating living costs and economic difficulties.
Moreover, Jeng pointed out that inadequate access to financial services further hinders pensioners’ ability to manage their funds effectively. “I am not making this appeal for myself but for my colleagues who are still working to put food on the table. Suppose the government can increase the salaries of civil servants. In that case, it should also consider the needs of pensioners, as the recent increment has had little impact on those receiving meager pensions,” he remarked. Jeng noted that many Gambian pensioners struggle to afford even a bag of rice on their pensions. “That is unacceptable by all standards,” he said, underscoring that pensioners deserve to live with dignity.
