The Pensioner In Ondo State Have Threatened shutddown

Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ondo State Chapters
has threatened a showdown with the state government if the
gratuities and pension arrears of its members are not paid
within seven days.
The pensioners, who served in the civil service, teaching
service and local government service, at a meeting in Akure,
the state capital, on Wednesday, gave the government seven
days for the debt to be cleared.
They threatened specifically that if by the end of the week,
their August pension was not paid, they would have no
choice than to take to the streets for a protest.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the state Secretary
of the union, Mr Funso Odere, said none of his member
had received any gratuity since 2011.
According to him, the total indebtedness of the state
government to the pensioners in term of gratuity aside the
monthly pension was about N15bn, adding that all
entreaties to the government had not yielded any result.
He said, “Certain amount of money is being deducted from
our monthly pension which is illegal. They said the money is
being paid to a consultant, who is in charge of remittal. It is
the state government that should pay the consultant and not
the pensioners. They should stop this illegal deductions and
pay us back those money that were deducted from our
monthly pension.
“Some pensioners, who retired years ago, were being paid
N5,000 whereas those who retired early this year are being
paid N80,000. We want the government to harmonise us.
You can’t imagine a permanent secretary, who laid the
foundation for the old Ondo State, being paid N50,000 while
those who retired this year are earning over N350,000.
“Some pensioners retired early this year, especially those
who retired between January and August, have not been
paid their pension arrears. The government paid one month
instead of eight months.
“Some pensioners are on sick bed right now; some have
died due to non-payment of monthly pension. We are
suffering in silence Ondo State. Many die because they could
not afford to buy drugs for their illness. We want the
government to look into our plight.”