Members of the Ondo State Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) stopped traffic today for several hours at the State Accountant General's office in Alagbaka in Akure, protesting pension reforms. Pensioners say reforms are causing delays in payment and costing them money.
Members of the Ondo State Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) stopped traffic today for several hours at the State Accountant General's office in Alagbaka in Akure, protesting pension reforms. Pensioners say reforms are causing delays in payment and costing them money.
Akure South Secretary of Pensioners, Mr. Sunday Boboye accused the Office of the State Account General of short-changing their pensions, "It's disheartening that since December the government has been taking our money to the bank on the pretense of e-payment. Many of our members have not been receiving their pensions on time, and the last time we received our pension was November and December last year."
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Boboye added, "They have outrageously deducted our pension which we believe is inhuman, and when they explained to use the reasons behind the deduction they told us is for the repair of the remittance machines."
The protesting pensioners, who carried placards and sang solidarity songs for several hours, stopped traffic outside the entrance gate of the State Accountant General's office, a meter from the State House of Alagbaka. According to pensioners there is record of delay, and outrageous and constant deductions of their pensions by state government. They also accused the government of not totally paying their gratuity, and it has caused them to face hardship - some have died, others don't have food or enough money to support their families.
Before meeting with the State Accountant General, the Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Adetuwo said the executive members of the union would get to the root of the struggle. He said the issue of gratuity is from the Federal Government, and even the State government is trying to ensure the State Council receives it as and when its due.
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In talking to reporters, the pensioners said the delay in payments and the constant deductions is putting much suffering on them without considering their old age after working tirelessly before their retirement. One source who requested anonymity because he receives a government pension said, "Just check other states and even the neighboring or sister states, the plight of their pensioners is always of major concern but in Ondo State, the reverse is the case."
Another pensioner said, "Today's protest is just a preliminary method to abreast the government that we are not happy with the way pensioners in this state are being treated and we shall come back with full force if they refuse to change and listen to our plight."
Addressing the pensioners after a meeting the State Accountant General, Chief Raphael Adetuwo said, "…He has compelled us to write a letter to the government over the matter because none of us is happy. The state government will look into the grievances. Let me assure you that we won't let you down, and we shall carry you along in all the proceedings for us to get justices and retrieving our right."
SaharaReporters contacted the State Account General, Mr. Frederick Ajibokun, about the delayed and reduced pension payments. He said the government is trying to ensure pensioners receive their money on time but he said many of the pensioners have not received their money because they refused to sign up for computerized payments of their pension. He recommended pensioners embrace the new technology, "I would urge you to get acquitted with the e-payment system where your name and passport photograph would be needed so that government can pay your money. Let me state it emphatically that no one will eat your money."
The Accountant General did admit the remittance machine, which alerts workers of their salary, was broken and government had to find a quick way of repairing it, and this caused the delay of pensioner's money.
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