Pensioners in Ogun State have besieged the Governor’s office in Oke Mosan, closing the main gate into the State Secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital, to disrupt government functions.
The Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN) has been protesting for months over the non-payment of its unpaid N68 billion gratuities dating back ten years.
It should be remembered that the pensioners had protested three times in the last four months over their unpaid gratuity.
Recall that the retirees had blocked the two main secretariat gates leading to the state’s center of power in September while protesting. So also in June, as part of their demonstrations about delayed gratuities, pensioners battled with security agents who barred them from entering the state secretariat as they marched towards the Governor’s office.
In what appears to be a regular occurrence, the retirees organized another protest on Thursday, this time demanding an audience with Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The demonstrators seized over the entrance after overwhelming the security agents at the gate, barring anyone from entering or exiting.
Nafiu Aigoro, the new State Head of Service, led the state authorities in making an appeal to the unhappy senior public servants who were protesting.
During his meeting with them, Mr. Aigoro pledged that despite the government’s various obstacles, they (the people) will have a happy life. “Despite the state’s and country’s deteriorating financial position, this government will always prioritize the welfare of retirees and assure continuous payment of their pensions,” he stated.
“We will get an audience with the governor within the next couple of weeks to resolve any remaining concerns,” he said, adding that “as a promise-keeping government, no stone will be left unturned to assure workers’ and pensioners’ wellbeing and welfare.”
He also stated that, while the government has made attempts by providing N500 million quarterly, “it will not be adequate unless the governor meets with pensioners to discuss several concerns, including the increase in the monthly pension.”
