Edo: Protesting Pensioners Shut Down Benin-City
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Protesting pensioners blocked entrance to Ring Road
LAGOS OCTOBER 16TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Pensioners in Edo State on Monday resumed their street protest to demand for the payment of their pension arrears and gratuity.
The protesting pensioners wore red attires and caused heavy vehicular traffic in Benin City by blocking the popular Oba Ovoramwen Square (Ring Road).
They sang solidarity and derogatory songs as well as they prayed to God to intervene on their behalf.
Spokesman of the protesters, Barr. Gabriel Osemwekhai, said they resumed their protest because Governor Godwin Obsseki was not prepared to use the Paris Club refund money to pay their pension arrears and gratuity.
Gabriel said they have protested severally in the past and the state government failed to listen to them.
He said the pensioners were owed between five and 42 months pension arrears, gratuity for local government pensioners from 2008 till date and that the state pensioners were owed gratuities from 2012 till date.
On claims by the state government that N220m was paid to pensioners, he said the money was paid from statutory allocation to the local government areas.
“The latest development is that we have not heard from the government. We have protested times without number. This is the 13th time we are coming out to protest in respect of the non-profit of our arrears and gratuity.
“As a matter of fact, the money is available, it has been given to the State government to be disbursed to pensioners and ever since the money came, Edo state Governor has kept mute, he has been so silence over the disbursement. He has never given a dime to pensioners from the Paris Club refund.
“That is the money the federal government brought with specific instructions that it should pay all arrears and gratuity. But this man has paid dear ears. We don’t know if it is because he is Governor of the ruling party. We don’t know if that is why he has remained obstinate.
“President Muhammadu Buhari himself called all the traditional rulers when he returned from his sick leave. He told them that he is disappointed with some Governors. Our own Governor is the only one who has not come out to say this is how much am going to bring out for the pensioners.
“It is the two months monthly pension he is owing them. The amount for one month is N220 million, and he paid for two months successively. But he did not brought out any money from the Paris Club refund.”
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Posted by News Rangers
on Oct 16 2017. Filed under State.
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