By Ijeoma Obioma, Makurdi.
A group known as Concerned/Aggrieved Pensioners in Benue State has taken to the streets of Makurdi in Benue State to press home their demand of unpaid pensions.
The pensioners, bearing several placards with inscriptions on Wednesday urged the state government to pay their gratuity/retirement benefits.
The Chairman of the group, Comrade Akosu Ioream, led the protesters to the State’s House of Assembly to meet with the Speaker, Titus Uba, where they stated their grievances.
Ioream said that the pensioners were being owed by the state government between 37 and 74 month pension arrears at the state and local governments level respectively while the backlog of gratuity had become a forgotten issue.
He said, “As a result of non-payment of pension and gratuity, pensioners are dying on a daily basis as most of them are on a special diet and drugs but could not afford even a maintenance ration or drugs. This has caused untold hardship to pensioners including inability to afford decent food.
“Because of hardship, occasioned by non payment of pension and gratuity, we have lost our wives to ‘okada boys’ since we are no longer economically viable to cater for them.”
The deputy clerk, Oliver Aguda, who received the protesters, told them that the Speaker of the House, who is the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship flag bearer, was however not in the office and promised to deliver their message to him.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
