Delta retirees protest nonpayment of benefits for 6 years

Over 500 retirees from the Delta Civil Service yesterday matched through major roads in Asaba, Delta State capital, in protest against non-payment of their pensions and gratuity by the state government for the past six years.

Some placards carried by the protesting retirees read: ‘Okowa emulate other state governors who have given retirees their full benefits,’ ‘Okowa, use 2011 salary structure for Delta State retirees,’ ‘Implement harmonisation or quit Government House,’ among others.

The retirees, under the aegis of Association of Contributory Retirees (ACR), first stormed the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Asaba shortly aftera 30-minute prayer at the Labour House.

The group later advanced to the State House of Assembly and was addressed by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori before heading to Government House to interface with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Addressing newsmen, the ACR Chairman, Ajueitsi Ovwiroro, represented by his Vice, Anthony Osanekwu, said the retirees from the civil service were owed about N50 billion since 2010.

He said that 10 years after the Contributory Pensions Scheme came into being (2007-2017), the state government was still grappling with issues.

“Even with the third tranche of the bailout fund by the Federal Government, out of the N10 billion giving to Delta Government, only a paltry sum of N300 million was given to the Contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.