Pensioners in Edo State have disrupted the flow of human and vehicular traffic at the popular Ring Road, Benin City, the Edo State capital. The pensioners barricaded the ever-busy road earlier today, again, to press home their demand for payment of arrears of their pension for six months.
The pensioners carried placards bearing inscriptions such as, “Pay Our six months Arrears,” “We Are dying of Hunger and Starvation, Save Our Soul,” and “Why Owing Us our Entitlements?” They urged the Edo State government to pay their entitlements to enable them celebrate Christmas and New year, adding that Governor Oshiomhole has treated them with levity.
Gladys Idahor, Edo State head of service, on December 16, announced that the state government had concluded arrangement to pay the gratuity of 2010, 2011 to pensioners this week, a few days before Christmas. “There will be pensioner verification exercise for officials who retired in the Year 2010 and 2011 but have not been paid their gratuity,” he stated, adding that, “pensioners who are successfully screened will be paid their gratuity the following day.”
But the pensioners seemed not swayed by the statement. The pensioners described the announcement as another strategy of denying them of their entitlementsin this Christmas and New Year, as they lamented the difficulties they have been going through due non-payment of their pension arrears. They have, therefore, vowed to resist any intimidationuntil their demands are meant.
All attempt to speak with Tom Uloko commissioner for local government and chieftancy affairs could not be reached for comment.