For the second time in one week, aggrieved pensioners in Edo State yesterday trooped out to protest the non-payment of their pensions, daring the state government to arrest them for demanding the arrears of pensions and gratuities spanning between five to 42 months.

Adorned in red apparels with banners of various inscriptions, mats, mattresses and others, bedding materials as well as chairs and benches, the protesters also sat at the centre of the road close to Orhopota Hall of the host Oredo Local Government Area in Benin, the state capital.

The retired elderly men and women had accused the state government of insensitivity and for peddling lies to members of the public that it had paid of all their entitlements.

The protest caused chaotic situation within the city centre with several hours of gridlock even as motorists drove in opposite directions for possible escape, which delayed workers and school children while businesses were crippled in the process.

It will be recalled that the Edo State government through the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Gladys Idahor, had on Wednesday warned that it would no longer fold its arms to watch mischief makers instigate pensioners into embarking on needless and stage-managed protests, in order to put the state government in bad light and undermine efforts at resolving the pension issue.

The protest was coming ahead of the planned bogus one year anniversary of Governor Godwin Obaseki which was billed for November 12.

According to the statement signed by the Head of Service Mrs. Gladys Idahor, the government said it was not only committed to clearing the backlog of pension arrears, but also instituting a new regime where retiree’s entitlements were not delayed.

Idahor added that not less than N6.2 billion had so far been paid to retirees between January to September this year, noting that the protest on Monday, October 16, was an orchestration by some disgruntled elements and their political allies designed to undermine the effort of the state government to sustainably resolve the pension issue once and for all.

The spokesperson for the angered pensioners, Mr. Gabriel Osemwenhkai, told newsmen that; “We have been carrying out this agitation for quite a long time even before the exit of former governor, Adams Oshiomhole. There were lots of forces; we have the remote and immediate. The immediate cause of this our action was that Mrs. Gladys Idador, the Head of Service of Edo State misfired by going to the air (radio and television) to announce that we are one; that if we come out again to agitate that she was going to arrest all of us.”

warn them to stop barricading road
near CBN
n near House of assembly if ur going to airport road