Protesting retirees: We lost 6 pensioners in 1 week

The recent death of six pensioners in Cross River State prompted over 50 other elderly pensioners to march to the governor’s office to protest neglect and non-payment of their gratuities and pension.

They had demanded to see the governor but were blocked by security personnel at the gate as the governor has been away from the state for the past two weeks.

The pensioners led by a former staff of Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), Mr. Paul Idagu, carried placards such as: “We have suffered enough; pay us our gratuity from 2014”, “Paris Club refunds are rare gift that must be used for the purpose meant for”, “Governor Ayade: Retirees in Cross River are entitled to longevity. Let us not die out of frustration.”

“We are here to let the governor know that we have buried about six of our fellow retirees in the last one week because government has not paid us our gratuities since 2014. Government must not wait until we all die before they pay us,” Idagu said.

Those that died include Augustine Etta; Sylvia Edem Bocco; Naji Abang Naji; Sylvester Ibok and Vincent Eja who, he said, died a pathetic death.

Eja, he narrated, worked for 35 years and retired as a director and was attacked by very strange ailment called auto bacteria disease that rendered his two hands useless.

“He was referred to National Hospital, Abuja for treatment. He needed five hundred thousand naira only for the treatment, but unfortunately, for two years, he roamed the corridors of Governor’s office and Accountant General’s office seeking for help even when his gratuity was due him. He died and was buried last week,” he said.