Hundreds of pensioners under the aegis of “Concerned Pensioners” in Benue State, gathered on the major streets of Makurdi, the state capital on Wednesday to protest a giant the non-payment of 75 months pension and gratuities.
The protest terminated at the office of the Benue State Pension Board along Barracks Road in Makurdi.
Stanley Okwanya, the group’s Vice Chairman and also the leader of the protest said:
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“We are being owed between 38 and 75 months of pension arrears at the state and local government levels, respectively, while the backlog of gratuity has become a forgotten issue.”
According to reports, the protest on Wednesday was the second in a month.
Protesters got to the cabinet office, which also is the Office of the Secretary to the State Government but were denied entry.
Okwanya held while protesters stood outside the gate that they would not relent until their money was fully paid.
He again said:
“We have decided that every month we will be coming out until our request is met.”
Also, the State Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, who was on the ground said:
“We are here to ensure they move around peacefully and safely. You can see the number of police following them.”
The Chairman of the Pension Board, Terna Ahua, who attended to protesters said he would take their complaints to his principal and afterwards respond to them.
