2 pensioners slump during protest in Benue
Thu Aug 04, 2016 02:35:pm Gist
2.4K By sosa hills
There was a near break down of law and order at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi yesterday when Benue State pensioners refused to vacate the state seat of power insisting that their demands be met.
The over five hundred pensioners carried placards with various inscriptions to press home their demands.
Addressing the protesting senior citizens amidst top government officials, President of the Concerned Pensioners, Comrade Peter Kyado, informed that the protest which according to him was the third in the series became imperative owing to the failure on the part of government to fulfil its earlier promises to them.
He enumerated their demands to include the immediate payment of their ten months' pension arrears owed them as well as gratuity. Others he said included the harmonisation of their pensions and an upward review of same as well as the placement of state pensions' payment on the first chart of government pay roll.
"It is an irony that today we are living in penury as we can no longer feed ourselves, no shelter, no medication due to non payment of our entitlements for several years; even we are considered and being treated as weaker and irresponsible.
"As senior citizens, we gave our very best to our state, country and humanity; we deserve respect and timely release of our retirement benefits as contained in the 1999 constitution."
The over five hundred pensioners carried placards with various inscriptions to press home their demands.
Addressing the protesting senior citizens amidst top government officials, President of the Concerned Pensioners, Comrade Peter Kyado, informed that the protest which according to him was the third in the series became imperative owing to the failure on the part of government to fulfil its earlier promises to them.
He enumerated their demands to include the immediate payment of their ten months' pension arrears owed them as well as gratuity. Others he said included the harmonisation of their pensions and an upward review of same as well as the placement of state pensions' payment on the first chart of government pay roll.
"It is an irony that today we are living in penury as we can no longer feed ourselves, no shelter, no medication due to non payment of our entitlements for several years; even we are considered and being treated as weaker and irresponsible.
"As senior citizens, we gave our very best to our state, country and humanity; we deserve respect and timely release of our retirement benefits as contained in the 1999 constitution."
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