Benue pensioners give Gov Alia ultimatum, threaten massive protest

The Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has given the Benue State Government till the 16th of this month to meet their demands or face protests from members.

Rising from an emergency meeting Tuesday at its secretariat in Makurdi, the Union demanded that the state government pays all Local Government Pensioners their three months pension arrears without delay.

In a notification issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the State Chairman, Michael Vembe and Secretary, Saater Bur, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners also demanded that the government should release Nine Hundred Million Naira every month for the payment of local Government Pensioners in the state.

In addition, the pensioners want the government to start the payment of their pension arrears and gratuities, place all retirees that have fully processed their papers on pension payroll this month and pay pension within a month of a worker’s retirement from service.
The meeting resolved that if government fails to meet their demands, the Union will have no choice but mobilise all pensioners in the state to protest on Wednesday next week.

While appreciating the government for paying three months pension to all state pensioners, the Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners lamented that one month has been paid to one third of Local Government Pensioners.

The Union reminded the State Government of its earlier promise to pay pension arrears and gratuities, noting that pensioners were most vulnerable due to age and health challenges and therefore deserve to get priority attention when the fuel subsidy removal palliatives start.