Pensioners in Edo State on Monday resumed protest to demand for the payment of their pension arrears and gratuity.
The pensioners in their numbers sang solidarity and derogatory songs as well as prayed to God to intervene on their behalf.
Speaking onbehalf of the pensioners, Gabriel Osemwekhai, said they resumed their protest because Governor Godwin Obsseki was not prepared to use the Paris Club refund money to pay their pension arrears and gratuity.
Gabriel explained that they have protested severally in the past, adding that the state government is yet to pay them
He said the pensioners were owed between five and 42 months pension arrears, gratuity for local government pensioners from 2008 till date and that the state pensioners were owed gratuities from 2012 till date.
On claims by the state government that N220m was paid to pensioners, he said the money was paid from statutory allocation to the local government areas.
“The latest development is that we have not heard from the government. We have protested times without number. This is the 13th time we are coming out to protest in respect of the non-profit of our arrears and gratuity.
“As a matter of fact, the money is available, it has been given to the State government to be disbursed to pensioners and ever since the money came, Edo state Governor has kept mute, he has been so silence over the disbursement. He has never given a dime to pensioners from the Paris Club refund.
“That is the money the federal government brought with specific instructions that it should pay all arrears and gratuity. But this man has paid dear ears. We don’t know if it is because he is Governor of the ruling party. We don’t know if that is why he has remained obstinate.
