Pensioners Protest Against Long Spread Of Outstanding Gratuities

Pensioners in Ogun state have described as unacceptable, the plan by the state government to spread the quarterly payment of outstanding gratuities of members over the next thirty four years.
The Chairman, Local government Pensioners Association of Nigeria, Ogun state Chapter, Chief Sikiru Ayilara stated this while addressing journalists during a peaceful protest to the Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor’s office.
According to reports, the pensioners were denied entrance to the state Secretariat by security operatives.
The protest attracted pensioners from the twenty local government areas of Ogun state who marched out carrying placards with various inscriptions like ” Governor Dapo Abiodun, stop sending our members to early graves due to starvation “, ” Governor Dapo Abiodun follow the governors of Ondo, Oyo, Borno and Lagos states to improve the welfare of pensioners in Ogun state “
Addressing journalists, the chairman, Local government Pensioners Association of Nigeria, Ogun state Chapter, Chief Sikiru Ayilara said the protests had become necessary following the failure of government to accede to their prayers after several correspondences to the necessary quarters.
Chief Ayilara who noted that the sum of five thousand naira minimum pension paid monthly in the state was insufficient with the economic realities in the state advised the present administration to commence the immediate implementation of thirty three point four percent of pensions designed in 2014.
Chief Ayilara listed other demands of the pensioners to include the resuscitation of the suspended bureau of local government pensions committee in line with federal and state laws.
Other pensioners who spoke with Radio Nigeria described the government’s poor attitude to pensioners welfare as unfortunate.
Addressing the pensioners, the Secretary to State government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi explained that though the debt was inherited by the present administration, the government would continue to find the means to address their demands.
Representatives of both the government and the pensioners had gone into a closed door meeting with a view to working out a better arrangement to resolve the issues.

Segun Folarin