Several pensioners on Wednesday besieged the Etsako Local Government Council Secretariat, Auchi, to protest against the Edo State government’s failure to settle their unpaid gratuities, improve their welfare and harmonise pensions.

The protesters displayed various placards with inscriptions such as, “We need our gratuity to take care of our health and families; pay our gratuity and harmonise our monthly pension, among others.’’

The protesters were retirees from the local government service and other state ministries and agencies.

Speaking on behalf of the pensioners, Shaka Momoh, accused the state government of refusing to pay the consequential pension adjustment of 2019, harmonisation of pensioners’ allowances and non-payment of gratuity from 2008 till date.

“Some of our members are still receiving between N1,000 and N1,500 as pension allowance, due to the non-implementation of the harmonised pension allowances and pension increment by the Federal Government.

“Since 2008, the Edo government has not paid gratuity to retired state workers,” Mr Momoh said.

The Director of Administration and General Services of the local government, John Ogiadomhe, who addressed the pensioners, promised to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters. 

(NAN)