FG pensioners demonstrate in Ibadan over unpaid gratuities

Federal government retirees under the aegis of Interim Association of Contributory Pension Scheme Pensioners took to the streets in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday protesting against non-payment of their gratuities and other entitlements.

The pensioners told the federal government not to use their contributions to the pension funds for infrastructure but to pay them their dues without delay.

The pensioners, in their peaceful protest staged at Eleyele area of Ibadan, Oyo State, carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Pay us our pension,’ ‘Federal government save our souls, pay our entitlements’, ‘Pension is our right, not privilege,’ ‘PenCom should stop short payment of retirees,’ ‘CBN release our bond,’ ‘Haba since November 2015 nothing has been paid,’ Don’t use our N6.02 trillion for infrastructure,’ ‘Don’t kill pensioners.’

Speaking with newsmen, the president of the association Comrade Amoo Shittu and the secretary, Comrade Adekunle Kolawole, alleged that the government had defaulted in the payment of their pension benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme, and all efforts to channel their grievances had failed.

The pensioners displayed letters they said they had written to the authorities, saying no positive response had been received.