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)
About Author
