By Elizabeth ADENUGA
Pensioners in Rivers, have constituted a five-man committee to meet and plead with former President Goodluck Jonathan, to help appeal to Gov. Nyesom Wike to pay their pension and gratuities.
The group, made up of those who retired from the state civil service from 2012 – 2015, took the decision at a meeting on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
The committee is headed by Dr Joshua E-yee.
Addressing the meeting at the State Secretariat, Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the group, Mr Monday Udo, said that the state government had collected N34 billion from the Federal Government.
He said the N34 billion was from the Paris Club, and urged the state government to pay pensioners on time haven completed the biometrics of pensioners.
Udo said his members were dying due to lack of money to take care of their heath.
“Our health is devastated. A good number of us have died. Worse still, our children are out of school,” Udo said.
According to him, his members were being owed between 28 months and 65 months arrears of pension.
The group, numbering about 2,000 matched to the Government House after the meeting, to register their protest and ask for payment.
The protesters brandished placards, some of which read “Governor Wike, why is your heart hardened on elders”; “Belly is part of project”, “Governor Wike, live and let live.”
The angry pensioners blocked the entrance to the government house, refusing vehicles entry into the complex.
Neither the governor nor any of his officials addressed the protesters while efforts to reach Mr Emma Okah, Information Commissioner, for comments failed
