We regret purchasing Alia’s nomination forms, Benue pensioners protest arrears

Benue State pensioners braved a downpour on Wednesday to protest the state government's failure to pay outstanding gratuities and pension arrears, some stretching back 25 years. Members of the Concerned Pensioners Association, a splinter group registered in 2022, marched with placards detailing their grievances, including demands for 38 to 62 months of unpaid pension arrears for state and local government retirees, respectively.

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Your Excellency, you have buried pensioners for paying gratuities during your time, June 2023 to date.

Chairman of the association, Akosu Orban, stated that the protest was a direct response to Governor Hyacinth Alia's unfulfilled pledges made during his 2022 election campaign. The pensioners are also demanding the harmonization of pension rates, citing that many receive as little as N2,000 monthly, a stark contrast to the N40,000 approved by the federal government. They accuse the state government of conniving with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners to perpetuate "unlawful activities."

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Gov. Alia pay us 38–62 months pension arrears, 25 years gratuities, harmonisation.

Adding a layer of regret to their protest, Orban revealed that the pensioners had pooled resources, alongside the Motorcycle Association, to purchase Governor Alia's nomination and expression of interest forms for re-election. This action was taken with the hope that the governor would address their long-standing demands. "But today, we regretted that step we took to purchase the governor’s nomination and expression of interest forms," Orban said.

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Your Excellency, pensioners are dying, pay our arrears and entitlements.

The pensioners appealed to President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to intervene. They highlighted the severe hardship caused by the non-payment, noting that some retirees are receiving only N2,000 per month. The situation has become so dire that some pensioners have reportedly lost their wives due to their inability to provide adequately for their families.

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Yes, it’s from our contributions that the union got the money to join hands with the motorcycle association to purchase the governor’s return nomination and expression of interest forms with the hope that he will redeem the pledges he made to us in the build-up to his election in 2023. But today, we regretted that step we took to purchase the governor’s nomination and expression of interest forms.