Delta retirees protest unpaid pensions as members die

Nosa Akenzua

A group of retirees in Delta State under the umbrella of ‘Association of Contributory Retirees’ on Friday threatened a showdown with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over arrears of their pension, claming that at least 10 of them had died of hunger.

The pensioners also alleged they had been subjected to “inhumane treatment and neglect” since they retired from service.

The retirees who spoke to a group of journalists in Asaba said the state government owed them over N6bn pension arrears including gratuity, threatening that they would disrupt work activities in the state in the next two weeks if they were not paid.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its Vice-Chairman, Mr. Uwhen Ede-Edijala, called for the immediate payment of the pensions, adding that they had been faced with hardship including strange ailments

He said, “The governor should as a matter of urgency pay us our pensions; more than 10 of our members had died for lack of funds and in the cause of trying to get their pensions paid. We are appealing to Governor Okowa to be kind enough and do something about the payment of our pensions. We have no other job; many of us rely on our pensions to feed. Hence, we are appealing to the governor to pay us. Those who took ill among us did not have money to purchase drugs.

The state government through its Chief of Staff, Mr. Tam Brisibe, reassured the pensioners of the intention of the government to pay their entitlement. He added that the current administration took the affairs of public servants seriously and would not do anything to jeopardise their welfare.

He said that the Okowa-led administration would ensure Delta State gets to a stage where no pensioner is owed or would go through stress to receive their benefits.

But the retirees said they had been neglected right from the administration of ex-Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and warned that unless their pensions were paid there would be no peace in the state.

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