peaceful protest at the Government House, Yenagoa,
with a call on the state government to settle its four-
month arrears.
Protesting under the banner of the Nigeria Union of
Pensioners, Bayelsa Chapter, the pensioners began their
peaceful demonstration from St. Peter’s Primary
School, Ovom, carrying placards with various
inscriptions to drive home their demands.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Pensioners are dying
every day; please pay us our gratuities; Dickson, be
good to pensioners”.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Bodi Amarah, said
the protest was to call government’s attention in order
to settle their four months pension arrears.
“We are not protesting for disorder but all we want from
Bayelsa government is to pay us our four month
arrears; we have serve the state and retired after the 35
years.
“Most of us do not have any other work doing for a
livelihood; our children school fees is from that stipend,
so, we want the state government to pay us.
“Our members are dying every day because the money
is not regular; we have been denied our gratuity and
harmonisation”, he said.
Another pensioner, Tarigboro Happy-John, who retired
as Director of Primary Research, Post Primary School
Board in 2009, said the protest was necessary.
“Let the government pay us our money, we were paid
last in August and what we are crying for now is four
month arrears; let the benefits of our late colleagues
been paid because we have done our 35 years
meticulous service.
“Our pension is not negotiable or used for politics; let it
been paid to us to enable us feed our family”, he said.
Receiving the protesters on behalf of Governor Seriake
Dickson, his Chief of Staff, Talford Ongolo, said
government would soon address the matter.
While calling on the protesting pensioners to maintain
peace and order for the betterment of the state, Mr.
Ongolo said: “We want you to organise yourselves and
let us go on a round table discussion because settling
issues need to be on dialogue”.
No comments:
Post a Comment