Edo Govt Has Not Paid Us – Aggreived Pensioners

 

The   attention   of   legions   of   Pensioners   in   Edo   State   comprising   State   and   Local   Government Pensioners, has been drawn to the inaccurate claim by the Edo State Government that she does not owe pensioners any debt whatsoever.

The   statement   proclaiming   the   non-indebtedness   attributed   to   the   report   made   by   some   media organizations in the state last Wednesday, 10th October, 2018 was targeted to mislead well meaning Edo citizens in particular and Nigerians in general.

Edo   Pensioners consider the claim not   only   an   affront   to   the   cordial  and purposeful mutual  co-operation between Government and Pensioners since November 2017 when protests were last carried out by Pensioners in Edo State.

Repeatedly, overzealous public officers have insinuated that the Government of Edo State has been magnanimous and paid up to date, all outstanding entitlements due to Edo State Pensioners.

Regrettably,   these   false   claims   are   meant   to   stir   disaffection   of   the   public   against   law   abiding pensioners in Edo State. Edo State Pensioners hereby alert members of the general public to ignore them is information.

The truth is that gratuities have never been paid since the inception of His Excellency Godwin Noghehase Obaseki’s administration nearly two years ago. This statement is incontrovertible if the truth must be told.

Also   worrisome   is   the ignominious,   despicable   and  dishonourable  treatment   of   harmonization   of pensions in Edo State. Till date, Edo State Government has doggedly and continually despised the constitutional and statutory provisions on harmonization, whereas constitutional regulation mandates both  the  Federal  and State   Governments  to comply   with self  regulatory   provisions dictating   that pension should be reviewed upwards every five years or whenever salaries of serving workers in Nigeria are increased (whichever one comes first).

We  appreciate   the   efforts   being   made   to   offset   pension   arrears   for   State  and   Local  Government pensioners by   this  present administration   but  frowns  at   the snail  speed  process of   Government’s implementation. We therefore appeal to the Governor to work his talk.

Finally, we would like to place on record that His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has received another tranche of the London/Paris Loan Refunds and other bailout funds. Pensioners in Edo State know that states which got the funds were advised to pay up pension entitlements and salary arrears from the refunds.

We hereby ask: has Edo State done so and if not, where are the funds deployed? Pensioners hereby appeal to all well meaning Nigerians and the good people of Edo State in particular to prevail on the Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki to pay pensioners without any further delay including the long awaited implementation of harmonization of pension allowances to Edo State Pensioners.

Signed:

Amadin Edobor Okoro

PRO

For: Edo State Pensioners

(Local and State)

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