Again, Ogun pensioners protest over unpaid gratuities

Pensioners in Ogun State storm the Oke-Mosan office of Governor Dapo Abiodun to protest their unpaid gratuities.

It was reported that this is the third time in about four months the pensioners would stage protests to demand their entitlement.

The retirees, under the aegis of the Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN) are asking Gov Abiodun to pay their N68 billion outstanding gratuities.

In September, the pensioners had blocked the two main gates of the Oke-Mosan secretariat in Abeokuta, locking out the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi during their demonstration.

Also in June, the senior citizens clashed with some security agents, who shut them out of the secretariat when they were advancing towards the Governor’s office.

On Thursday, the retirees, who seemed not ready to give up on their agitations, took to the streets once again to demand an audience with Gov Abiodun.

Our correspondent reports that the aggrieved retirees, who stormed the state secretariat around 9am, met stiff resistance from security operatives, in an attempt to shut the two gates leading into the seat of power.

The security personnel made frantic efforts to stop the protesters from shutting down the exit points; this led to shoving and pushing between both parties.

The angry retirees, however, overwhelmed the security men and locked up the gates.

For about 30 minutes, the placard-carrying senior citizens took over the gates and prevented all entry and exit from the state secretariat.

Addressing the protesters, the Head of Service, Dr Nafiu Aigoro, said the government would ensure a comfortable post-retirement life for its local government pensioners, irrespective of the challenges they now face.

On the pensioners’ request to meet with Abiodun for a formal dialogue, Aigoro assured that “Within the next couple of weeks, we would get an audience with the Governor to resolve all outstanding issues.”