Ondo State retirees have protested the delay in the payment of their three months pension arrears and gratuities, lamenting that they are dying of hunger and frustration.
The retirees, who besieged the governor’s office on Tuesday as members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, complained that they were owed three months areas and 33 per cent increment in arrears in the last five years.
They marched with placards having inscriptions such as “Pay Our 3 Months Arrears”; “We Are dying of Hunger and Starvation, Save Our Soul, ” and “We Are Oil Producing State, Why Owe Us our Entitlements?”
Akin Adubuola, who is the Chairman of NUP in Akure South Local Government Area of the state, said the pensioners had been abandoned in spite of their old age, and having served the government meritoriously.
“We appeal to the state government to come to the rescue of our members by paying them all their entitlements so as to put an end to problem of sudden death, prolonged sicknesses and suffering,” he said.
Another pensioner, Femi Odere, urged Olusegun Mimiko to show compassion on the retirees who are dying of hunger and frustration.
“It is ungodly to maltreat the old folks in such a manner. We have served the government in all capacity with the best of our ability,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Union Matters, Dayo Fadahunsi, told the pensioners that the delay in the payment of their allowances was as a result of the financial crisis currently assailing the entire country.
He said the state government was committed to the welfare of its citizens, especially pensioners, and promised to take their grievances to the governor.