By Emmanuel Nlewedum
Pensioners in Rivers State, Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of their gratuities and ten years pension arrears
The retirees, who were seen in front of the state secretariat carrying placards with different inscriptions, bemoaned the untold hardship they have faced since 2012 till date.
They noted that since 2012 over 300 pensioners have lost their lives due to government’s non-compliance with its side of the tripartite agreement.
The retired Civil servants, however, argued that every effort to make the government pay fell on deaf ears even as complaints lodged at different quarters prove futile, leading to the peaceful protest.
However, the Rivers State Police Commmissioner of Police, Friday Eboka intercepted them at NIPOST head office in Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
The CP pleaded with them to suspend the protest, promising to convey their message to the Governor for quick intervention.
Some of the retirees told our correspondent that the non payment of their gratuity and pension arrears have caused them untold hardship, stressing that most of their members have died without collecting their retirement benefits.
Spokesperson for the pensioners , Mr Lucky Ati, gave the government two weeks to expedite action on their payment or they will return.
” This does not mean that as we are going out today we will not return here again if they do not comply, we will still come out.
“We are only suspending this protest today and if for any reason nothing is done. We have died enough; we don’t want to die again.
“We are giving them 2 weeks. In the next 2 weeks we will gather here if nothing is done”.
