PENSIONERS in Osun State hit the streets of Osogbo, the state capital again on Tuesday in protest against the non-payment of their pensions and gratuities.

The retirees said the state government was owing them 18 months pensions because of the modulated payment policy introduced in 2015, adding that many of them who retired since 2011 have not been paid their gratuities.

Hundreds of retirees gathered at Ayetoro area of the town as early as 7am and they marched towards the popular Olaiya Junction singing and praying to God to save them from starvation.

Armed with placards with various inscriptions denouncing the non payment of their entitlements, the senior citizens said about 2,500 of their members had died as at March, 2018.

The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State chapter, Alhaji Ganiyu Salawu, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had refused to pay the 33 per cent as well as the 142 per cent increment implemented for pensioners.

Salawu said, “Majority of our people are dying of hunger. Our entitlement not regular, and the issue of half salaries and pension is very bad. The 33 per cent increase implemented in 2010 has not been implemented. The 142 per cent increment is not paid also.

“We have written letters to the governor but there is no acknowledgement of our letters. We also wrote five reminder letters, still there is no response.

“We don’t have any grudge against the government but we want our entitlements. We are not politicians and no politician is using us, what we what is that out entitlements should be paid so that we can begin to live a decent life. We have worked so hard and now that we are supposed to be eating the fruits of our labour, the government is depriving us.

“Some of our members have been ejected from homes because they can’t pay rent, our children are out of schools. Some of our graduates are jobless, so, how do they take care of themselves let alone their parents.” – Punch

– Jul. 24, 2018 @ 11:17 GMT |