Fagbohun Lauretta, OGUN
Members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ogun State at the early hours of Tuesday protested the non-payment of their 12 years’ gratuities estimated at N68bn by the government.
The pensioners described the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration as the “enemy of pensioners” over the failure to fulfil its promises of prompt payment of their gratuities and other entitlements.
Displaying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters marched from the secretariat in the Leme area of Abeokuta, the state capital to the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, chanting anti-government songs to register their grievances.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “Governor Dapo Abiodun, you should know that pensioners are not slaves, hence they deserve better treatment from the government”; Mr Governor why did you disobey your father’s instructions to cater for pensioners?”; “Governor Dapo Abiodun stop paying lip service to the rights of the senior citizens in the state”; “Mr Governor address unpaid arrears of 12 years gratuities now”! and “Mr Governor has been nonchalant to the plights of Ogun pensioners”.
Speaking with newsmen, the chairman of NUP, Waheed Oloyede accused the governor of deliberately punishing pensioners by denying them of their entitlements.
He lamented the non-implementation of a 33.4 per cent increment in their pension, saying Abiodun has impoverished pensioners by withholding their gratuities.
He said the meagre N5,000 minimum pension being paid to some of their members “is grossly inadequate to meet with the present economic demands”.
Oloyede also lamented what he called the “acute lateness” in the payment of their monthly pensions, saying this has caused “untold financial hardship to the senior citizens who spend a huge amount of money on various old age ailments.
Addressing the protesters, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tokunbo Talabi assured the pensioners of a quick response to their demands.
He said government is trying its best to make sure that all their demands are urgently attended to adding that he will fast track their meeting with the state Governor in due time.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN), Chief Sikirulah Ayilara died at the early morning of Tuesday at his house at age 82 as confirmed.
