Retirees in Cross River State have blocked access to the Government House, Calabar over unpaid pensions and gratuities.
The pensioners, who prevented vehicular movement into the governor’s office, said they were tired of hearing stories concerning their entitlements.
Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, Calabar branch, Dr. Eyo Eyo, who spoke to Vanguard, said it was quite unfortunate how retirees were being treated since July 2013.
“It will interest you to know that many of us have not received our gratuity as far back as July 2013.
“Many of us were last paid pension in 2020, while some 99 percent of us are being owed since September.
“We don’t understand the logic behind selective payment of pension and gratuity.
“Interestingly, many of the pensioners collect as low as 4,000, some get 7,500 while others get a little above N15,000 to N20,000 which is amongst the highest.
“Why are they still being owed?
“We have appealed several times to government and at this point, we are tired of writing.
“They are claiming that the governor is not aware of our plight. Well, we have brought ourselves to his door post.
“We need money for upkeep. Many have died, countless are bedridden are are dying daily.
“We are in a sorry situation. Look at one of us on the floor. He just collapsed because he last had a good meal on Thursday morning.
“We have written countless letters to the governor through Organised Labour. But we decided to come on our own to make our position known today.
“We are aware that the governor is having a meeting at the State House of Assembly with some important visitors, including governors and ministers.
“But we rather wait at the office for him because we respect him so much,” Eyo said.
Organised labour in the State has been on an indefinite strike for weeks over its 14-point demand bordering across non-payment of gratuities to state and local government workers, non-implementation of promotions of State and local government workers, among other issues.
The union had questioned the failure of the state government to pay the gratuities despite the application for two tranches of bailout funds and Paris Club refunds by the State as over N30 billion was intended to aid the payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities.
However, labour claims that the State owes nearly N50 billion in unpaid gratuities alone dating as far back as 1999 for local government retirees and 2014 for state retirees.
The Ben Ayade led administration is said to be responsible for the unpaid gratuities to more than 70 per cent of the local government retirees and over 80 per cent of the state retirees.
Meanwhile, a retiree who slumped during the protest could not be revived; he was rushed to the hospital by Permanent Secretary Dr. Alfred Mboto for further treatment.
