12,000 pensioners protest in Ogun

The pensioners, who through their leadership and other top members in the state, protested in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, declared that “enough is enough” as they vowed to ensure that their entitlements were paid as at when due. The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State branch, Balogun Joseph Ojo who briefed journalists […]

The pensioners, who through their leadership and other top members in the state, protested in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, declared that “enough is enough” as they vowed to ensure that their entitlements were paid as at when due.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State branch, Balogun Joseph Ojo who briefed journalists at a news conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Iwe Irohin House secretariat, Abeokuta, after the peaceful protest said that the body could not rely on the House Committee report on solving problems of pensioners as “it would go the way of others done in the past.

“We are not relying on the Committee report to bring succour to our problems. We do not know who is fooling who. The best solution to the pension problems in the country is either to go back to the old system or be effective on the new e-payment system,” Ojo who was responding to Sunday Trust question declared, hinting further that the figure stated above was three quarter of the pensioners in the state who were affected by the irregular payment.

The Union chairman observed that since, “the Abuja take over, things have not been smooth especially in the area of monthly payment of pension. Many pensioners have been lamenting for non-payment of their federal pension since April, 2009. Many others were paid haphazardly. The sufferings can no longer be endured by thousands of pensioners.”

Ojo wondered why there was a continuous contradiction in claims from the Head of Service and the banks involved in the payment of the pensions, lamenting that, “many were short paid while many others not paid at all. We are now demanding very urgent review to justify the name ‘Government’.”

The Union used the opportunity to make passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Accountant General of the Federation “who is supposed to make regular monthly releases to the office of the Head of Service  for payment of federal pension,” adding that the office should adopt more committed approach.”