Hundreds of Pensioners Protest In Port-Harcourt accusing Governor Wike of owing them over N70 Billion Port-Harcourt arrears

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt 

 

 

Pensioners in their hundreds in Rivers State in the early hours of today (08/08/2018) stormed the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt in the early hours of today staged a protest against the Rivers Government for its refusal to pay them their pensions and gratuities.

 

 

They lashed out at the Government under the administration of  Governor Nyesom Wike  for not taking the issue of their indebtedness as a priority.

 

 

They lamented the even though Governor Wike has been garnering numerous awards for bearing the sobriquet “Mr Project” for  executing numerous infrastructures in the state but has failed woefully for  not remembering senior citizens like them who have toiled for over 30 years of their lives serving the state with nothing to show.

The Spokesperson for the Pensioners,  Mr Lucky Ati, said that the state government is owing over 2, 000 Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme in an excess of of N70 billion. However, the logjam is that the Pension providers are insisting that they cannot pay the Pensioners until the state pays its counterpart funds.

 

Facing the Civil Servants still in service, Lucky Ati, warned: “We are suffering from the nonpayment of our legitimate entitlements and you people still in service are behaving as if the issue does not matter and because it does not concern you now. Don’t worry about it now. You will soon join us and lament with us.”

 

He alleged that despite the fact that the retirees had their contributions deducted from their salaries when they were in service. Now the Contributory Scheme Providers are refusing to pay us.

 

” All we went now is that the Contributory Pension Law be abrogated. It is suffocating us many of us have died out of penury. Some us are Diabetic and suffering from all manner of diseases. Is it a crime to serve the state for 33 years and above?”

 

In response to the Pensioners, Mr. Rufus Godwin, who addressed the Pensioners said the state government inherited arrears of salaries owed to Civil Servants when Governor Wike came into power.

 

” From what I can gather from you protest, you’re demanding that the Contributory Pension Law be abrogated. But I should make it clear that since 2009 the previous administration never contributed its own counterpart funds to the scheme thus making it difficult for this administration “.

 

He promised to take their demands to the Governor for his attention.

 

ALSO READ: 12 Armed Robbers Arrested In Port Harcourt As IGP Monitoring Team Invade Hideout

 

“You have every right to a peaceful protest to press home your demands This is the right way to make your demands. I will table your demands before the Governor” Rufus Godwin assured.