Lawyer Urges Lawmakers to Criminalise Delayed Pension Payments

Lawyer and public affairs analyst Maxwell Opara has urged lawmakers to make delayed or denied pension payments a criminal offense, arguing that retirees should not have to protest to receive benefits earned after decades of service.

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This is high time we criminalised delaying or denial of pension. We should criminalise it.

Speaking to ARISE News, Opara said pensioners were seeking money they had legally earned, not asking the government for a loan. He said someone who had served the country for 35 years should not have to demand payment of a gratuity or pension.

Opara also condemned the alleged use of tear gas against protesting pensioners. He described the action as a violation of constitutional rights, saying the retirees were harmless and were exercising their right to protest.

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Someone will serve a country for 35 years, his own money, he is not asking you to lend him money.

He offered free legal services to affected pensioners and said they could approach the courts to enforce their fundamental rights. Opara added that denials by police or other security agencies would not remove legal responsibility when evidence existed and said the alleged violations were actionable.

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It is a gross violation of rights to use tear gas on harmless people who are simply protesting and exercising their rights.

He also criticised the deployment of security personnel during pension protests. In his view, officers should focus on preventing demonstrations from being hijacked rather than confronting peaceful protesters.

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I am also ready to offer them free legal services.