Edo pensioners protest over 10years of unpaid gratuities

Edo State government stop the payment of our gratuities 10years ago, the present government siezed our yellow paper which is the authority we have that the government is owning us, Edo pensioners cries out.

Vehicular movement was disrupted on yesterday on Ring Road, Edo State, as pensioners blocked an entire section of the road to protest against the non-payment of 10 years’ gratuities of workers from the state civil service and 13 years for local government retirees.

They also kicked against the continued deduction of one per cent of their income for the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, adding that their pensions had not been harmonised to ensure that all those who retired at the same level earned the same amount irrespective of the year they left service.

The blockade of the city centre caused gridlock along adjoining streets, including Airport Road, Ezoti Street, Reservation Road, parts of Sapele Road, among others.

One of the protesters, Gordon Osamunyi, said, “We are all pensioners who have issues with the government. If it is not harmonisation, it is the consequential adjustment of the N30,000 minimum wage.

“There is no harmonisation of pensions, which is making people who retired on the same salary grade level earn the same pension irrespective of the time they retired.

“This is in the Constitution, but the Edo State Government has not done so. There were increases that would have harmonised salaries, but they were not done, dating back to the period of (former governor) Lucky Igbinedion.”

He continued, “Also, since this government came in 2016, it has not paid a single year’s gratuity. At least the previous government tried; let this government start paying like his predecessor.

“In 2017, April precisely, the present government called those who retired in 2012 and 2013 because Oshimhole’s government stopped in 2011 for screening. They were screened at Imaguero College and the yellow paper, which is the authority they have that the government is owning, was withdrawn from them. Then, they were told to go and wait for their alert. Till now, none of them has been credited with their money.

“The alert is still being expected four years and six months after. Unpaid gratuities are now spanning 10 years since the last one that was paid in 2011. That of the local government retirees is 13 years of unpaid gratuities.”

Responding to the pensioners’ demand, the Permanent Secretary, Pensions Bureau, Washington Abbey, said the government had acceded to the stoppage of the one per cent deduction, while he assured them that other demands would be met.

The function of Pensions Bureau is to ensure that every person who worked in either the Public Service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory or Private Sector receives his retirement benefits as and when due.